Gaza officials have tragically confirmed that the death toll from Israeli air strikes on a camp sheltering displaced Palestinians near Rafah in the southern part of the strip has now tragically risen to 45. This heartbreaking loss of innocent lives calls for urgent attention and action to address the devastating impact of the ongoing conflict.
The enclave’s health ministry revealed on Monday that the attack resulted in the tragic loss of 45 lives, including 23 women, children, and elderly individuals, while 249 others were left wounded.
The attack sparked protests and triggered international outcry, prompting Algeria to request an urgent UN Security Council meeting to address the situation in Rafah. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu labeled the deadly attack a “tragic incident” and assured that his government is thoroughly investigating the matter. The Kuwaiti Hospital in Rafah has been left non-operational, as confirmed by its director, following deliberate strikes by Israeli forces targeting the staff and the surrounding area.
Malta’s Foreign Minister Ian Borg addressed the dire humanitarian situation of thousands of Palestinians in Gaza and Rafah, emphasizing the need to revive the peace process for a lasting two-state solution during a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels.
He called on the international community to continue seeking an immediate ceasefire in Israel and Palestine as the only way out of this human tragedy and as an effective step forward for the release of all hostages in Gaza and the acceleration of humanitarian aid to Palestinian families. Borg also emphasised the importance of supporting the Palestinian Authority, for maintaining stability in the region. He said Malta strongly rejects the latest ground invasion in Rafah and he hoped that the EU could still convince Israel to bring an end to it.
Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths forcefully responded to Netanyahu’s assertion that Israel’s deadly attack on displaced Palestinians in Rafah was merely a “tragic mistake.” In a resolute statement, Griffiths stated, “Whether the attack was a war crime or a ‘tragic mistake’, for the people of Gaza, there is no debate. What occurred last night was the most recent, and quite possibly the most heinous, atrocity. Labeling it as ‘a mistake’ holds no significance for those who lost their lives, those who are mourning, and those who are striving to save lives.”
The European Union has unequivocally discussed the possibility of imposing sanctions on Israel for its actions in Gaza, as confirmed by Ireland’s Foreign Minister Micheal Martin. This significant step reflects the EU’s consideration of sanctions as a course of action if Israel fails to adhere to the ICJ’s directive to cease its attack on Rafah, as reported by Irish public broadcaster RTE. Minister Martin expressed Ireland’s readiness to back sanctions, affirming that all options must be considered if compliance is not forthcoming. It is noteworthy that this marks the first substantial discussion on sanctions among EU ministers, underscoring the gravity of the situation. Additionally, Minister Martin mentioned that several foreign ministers raised the potential of imposing sanctions on Israeli officials who support violent settlers in the West Bank, as also conveyed by RTE.
Meanwhile, the Foreign ministers from the European Union held constructive discussions with their counterparts from Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar in Brussels. EU’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, expressed optimism after the informal talks, stating that the parties are actively exploring the possibility of organizing a joint conference to implement a two-state solution. Additionally, Ireland, Spain, and Norway recently announced their forthcoming formal recognition of the state of Palestine, effective May 28.
CDE / Via Al Jazeera / RTE
