Israeli forces continued their assault on Rafah, a border town in Gaza once seen as a last refuge, despite a recent International Court of Justice order to halt operations there.
An air strike on a refugee camp in Rafah resulted in at least 45 deaths, including children. The incident, which occurred just days after the International Court of Justice called for a cessation of Israeli actions in Rafah, has sparked global outrage and further isolated Israel on the international stage regarding its actions in Gaza.
The Israeli military launched the attack late Sunday, shortly after Hamas fired a barrage of rockets towards the Tel Aviv area, most of which were intercepted.
Global Attention on Rafah
The phrase “All eyes on Rafah” has emerged on social media as a rallying cry for awareness about the ongoing violence in this Gaza city. Celebrities and global citizens alike are using the hashtag #AllEyesOnRafah to express solidarity with the Palestinians affected by the Israeli strikes.
Rafah had been a critical entry point for humanitarian aid until Israel intensified its military offensive earlier this month, gaining control of the crossing. The fighting in Rafah has forced more than one million Palestinians to flee, many of whom were already displaced by the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.
Palestinians report feeling unsafe from Israeli attacks regardless of their location within Gaza, resulting in continuous movement up and down the Strip over recent months. Following Israeli orders to evacuate northern Gaza, operations have expanded to central Gaza and the southern city of Khan Yunis, causing hundreds of thousands to flee to Rafah.
According to the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza, Israeli shelling has left just one health facility operational in Rafah, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.
Humanitarian groups warn of a worsening crisis in Gaza as the fighting in Rafah has severed main aid routes into the territory.
Israel’s Controversial Rafah Operation
The Rafah offensive has provoked widespread condemnation from global leaders. Despite this, Israel has vowed to continue its operations in Rafah, undeterred by international criticism and warnings from the United States.
The United Nations has repeatedly cautioned about an impending famine in besieged Gaza, particularly in the north. Following the Rafah incursion, the UN Chief expressed growing concerns about malnutrition in the south of Gaza.
The Israeli military claimed their aircraft targeted a Hamas compound in Rafah, resulting in the deaths of two senior Hamas operatives, Yassin Rabia and Khaled Nagar. They acknowledged reports of civilian casualties from the strike and the subsequent fire, stating that the incident is under investigation.
The United States faces increasing pressure to adopt a firmer stance following the deadly strike in Rafah. There are rising questions about how long President Joe Biden can tolerate Israel’s actions in Rafah, given that the International Court of Justice has ordered a halt to these operations.
Gaza security officials reported that Israeli tanks are now positioned in central and southwest Rafah.
The current conflict in Gaza erupted after Hamas’s attack on southern Israel on October 7, which resulted in the deaths of over 1,170 people, mostly civilians. In response, Israel’s military offensive has killed at least 36,096 people in Gaza.
