EU Foreign Minister Joseph Borrell strongly criticized Israel for its recent attack on Rafah, accusing Israel of disregarding the ruling of the International Court of Justice. Borrell stated, “The Hague’s court ruling from last week must be adhered to; however, Israel persists with its military operations despite being instructed to cease.”
In response to the situation, EU nations will convene discussions on how to address the court’s ruling, with plans to expedite the deployment of an EU task force to the Rafah border.
The incident follows reports from the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza confirming casualties from a blast at a refugee camp in the Rafah area. Videos from the scene depicted a significant explosion and intense fires raging.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) claimed to have targeted two senior Hamas leaders at one of the group’s compounds in Rafah. However, reports suggest that the fire may have spread to shelters, resulting in harm to civilians.
The strike occurred shortly after Hamas launched eight rockets from Rafah towards Tel Aviv, marking the first long-range attacks on the city since January.
In an official statement, the IDF asserted that it had “eliminated” two senior Hamas figures, Yassin Rabia and Khaled Nagar, in a “precise” airstrike in northwest Rafah, targeting Hamas militants with precision weapons.
Hamas authorities reported a death toll of 35 people and numerous injuries at a displaced Palestinians’ camp north-west of Rafah, situated away from recent military operations in a designated humanitarian safe zone. Among the casualties were women and children.
Search and rescue efforts are ongoing in Rafah’s Tal al-Sultan neighbourhood, approximately 2 km (1.2 miles) north-west of the city centre, with the Palestinian Red Crescent Society anticipating a potential increase in the death toll.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of devastation, with entire neighbourhoods engulfed in flames. Fadi Dukhan, a witness, recounted the horrifying experience of witnessing the aftermath of the explosion, which claimed the lives of innocent civilians, including a girl and a young man.
