Israeli tanks reach centre of Rafah
Published: 04:05 PM,May 28,2024 | EDITED : 08:05 PM,May 28,2024
A girl looks on, while Palestinians travel with their belongings, as they flee Rafah due to an Israeli strikes. — Reuters
RAFAH: Israeli tanks penetrated the heart of Rafah on Tuesday despite global outrage over a strike that set ablaze a crowded camp in Gaza's far-southern city, killing 45 people according to Palestinian officials.
Israeli tanks were 'stationed on the Al-Awda roundabout in the centre of the city of Rafah,' a witness said. A Palestinian security source confirmed tanks were in the centre of Rafah where Israeli troops launched a controversial assault earlier this month.
Sunday evening's camp strike, which Gaza medics said also left hundreds of civilians with shrapnel and burn wounds, drew condemnation from world leaders and was set to be discussed at an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council.
The sight of the charred carnage, blackened corpses and children being rushed to hospitals led UN chief Antonio Guterres to declare that 'there is no safe place in Gaza. This horror must stop.'
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the strike a 'tragic accident' but also vowed to push on with the military campaign to destroy Palestinian groups over the October 7 attack and bring home all the captives.
More air strikes and shelling rained down overnight on besieged Gaza -- including Rafah's Tal Al-Sultan area where the displacement camp went up in flames near a facility of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA.
'The situation is very dangerous,' said one resident, Faten Jouda, 30. 'We didn't sleep all night. There was random bombing from all directions, including artillery shelling and air bombardment as well as firing from aircraft.
UNRWA said that one million civilians had fled Rafah since Israel launched its assault on the city in early May despite a chorus of international warnings.
'This happened with nowhere safe to go & amidst bombardments, lack of food & water, piles of waste & unsuitable living conditions,' the UN agency posted on X.
'Day after day, providing assistance & protection becomes nearly impossible.'
Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed at least 36,096 people in Gaza, mostly civilians, according to the territory's health ministry.
The resulting civilian toll in Gaza prompted a wave of condemnation, with Palestinians and many Arab countries calling it a 'massacre'.
Philippe Lazzarini, head of UNRWA, said on Monday that 'the images from last night are testament to how Rafah has turned into hell on Earth'.
The EU's foreign policy chief Joseph Borrell said he was 'horrified' and French President Emmanuel Macron said he was 'outraged'.
A US National Security Council spokesperson said Israel 'must take every precaution possible to protect civilians'. — AFP
Israeli tanks were 'stationed on the Al-Awda roundabout in the centre of the city of Rafah,' a witness said. A Palestinian security source confirmed tanks were in the centre of Rafah where Israeli troops launched a controversial assault earlier this month.
Sunday evening's camp strike, which Gaza medics said also left hundreds of civilians with shrapnel and burn wounds, drew condemnation from world leaders and was set to be discussed at an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council.
The sight of the charred carnage, blackened corpses and children being rushed to hospitals led UN chief Antonio Guterres to declare that 'there is no safe place in Gaza. This horror must stop.'
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the strike a 'tragic accident' but also vowed to push on with the military campaign to destroy Palestinian groups over the October 7 attack and bring home all the captives.
More air strikes and shelling rained down overnight on besieged Gaza -- including Rafah's Tal Al-Sultan area where the displacement camp went up in flames near a facility of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA.
'The situation is very dangerous,' said one resident, Faten Jouda, 30. 'We didn't sleep all night. There was random bombing from all directions, including artillery shelling and air bombardment as well as firing from aircraft.
UNRWA said that one million civilians had fled Rafah since Israel launched its assault on the city in early May despite a chorus of international warnings.
'This happened with nowhere safe to go & amidst bombardments, lack of food & water, piles of waste & unsuitable living conditions,' the UN agency posted on X.
'Day after day, providing assistance & protection becomes nearly impossible.'
Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed at least 36,096 people in Gaza, mostly civilians, according to the territory's health ministry.
The resulting civilian toll in Gaza prompted a wave of condemnation, with Palestinians and many Arab countries calling it a 'massacre'.
Philippe Lazzarini, head of UNRWA, said on Monday that 'the images from last night are testament to how Rafah has turned into hell on Earth'.
The EU's foreign policy chief Joseph Borrell said he was 'horrified' and French President Emmanuel Macron said he was 'outraged'.
A US National Security Council spokesperson said Israel 'must take every precaution possible to protect civilians'. — AFP