An Israeli airstrike on the southern Gaza metropolis of Rafah that killed dozens of displaced Palestinians drew widespread worldwide condemnation Monday, with world leaders calling for an investigation into the assault and intensifying the stress for Israel to finish its navy marketing campaign within the south.
President Emmanuel Macron of France mentioned Monday he was “outraged” by the blast, and he referred to as “for full respect for worldwide legislation and an instantaneous cease-fire.”
“These operations should cease,” he mentioned, referring to the strike on Sunday. “There aren’t any protected areas in Rafah for Palestinian civilians.”
The strike got here simply two days after the Worldwide Courtroom of Justice appeared to order Israel to right away halt its offensive within the metropolis. A authorized official with the Israeli navy mentioned the strike was below evaluate.
Volker Türk, the United Nations human rights chief, mentioned, “What’s shockingly clear is that by putting such an space, densely full of civilians, this was a completely predictable consequence.”
Spanish overseas minister José Manuel Albares mentioned at a information convention Monday that he deliberate to ask different overseas ministers from the European Union’s member states to help the World Courtroom’s rulings towards Israel and to take measures if Israel continues with its Rafah operations.
António Guterres, the U.N. secretary normal, condemned Israel’s actions in a put up on X.
“There is no such thing as a protected place in Gaza,” Mr. Guterres wrote. “This horror should cease.” Tor Wennesland, the U.N. particular coordinator for the Center East peace course of, condemned the airstrikes and mentioned he was “deeply troubled by the deaths of so many ladies and youngsters in an space the place folks have sought shelter.”
Germany’s public broadcaster reported that the nation’s vice chancellor, Robert Habeck, mentioned on Saturday that Israel’s offensive in Rafah was “incompatible with worldwide legislation.” Senior German officers had beforehand warned Israel towards attacking Rafah, however Mr. Habeck’s feedback appeared to characterize a hardening of that tone in a rustic with a longstanding coverage of help for Israel.
“Israel should not perform this assault, at the least not in the way in which it did within the Gaza Strip earlier than, bombing refugee camps and so forth,” Mr. Habeck mentioned.
The Israeli navy mentioned the strike was focusing on a Hamas compound and that it used “exact munitions” to kill two senior Hamas leaders. However at the least 45 folks had been killed and greater than 200 had been wounded within the strike and ensuing fires, in keeping with the Gaza Well being Ministry.
In a press release, a spokesman for the White Home’s Nationwide Safety Council, acknowledged that the assault had killed two senior leaders liable for the Oct. 7 assaults towards Israel and mentioned that Israel “has a proper to go after Hamas.”
“However as we’ve been clear, Israel should take each precaution doable to guard civilians,” mentioned Eduardo Maia Silva, the spokesman for the council, earlier than referring to the Israel Protection Forces, including, “We’re actively participating the I.D.F. and companions on the bottom to evaluate what occurred, and perceive that the I.D.F. is conducting an investigation.”
The assault drew criticism from help teams, just like the Worldwide Rescue Committee, which issued a press release saying it was “horrified” and calling the realm that was hit a “designated protected zone.” Israeli officers insist that the strike was exterior the realm that they had designated as a protected zone for civilians. The I.R.C. additionally referred to as for an finish to Israel’s assault, a full cease-fire and for the discharge of all hostages.
Martin Griffiths, the United Nations emergency aid coordinator, denounced the Israeli strike on social media, and, showing to reference the Israeli navy’s exercise in southern Gaza, lamented how help businesses have struggled to select up items on the scale wanted.
“Such impunity can’t proceed,” Mr. Griffiths mentioned.
Philippe Lazzarini, chief of UNRWA, the principle U.N. help company for Palestinians, described the photographs popping out of Rafah as a “testomony to how Rafah has become hell on earth.”
The company has had problem contacting its groups on the bottom in Rafah, he mentioned, and a few of his employees are unaccounted for.
“UNRWA is doing every part doable to not interrupt the supply of humanitarian help. However with day by day passing, offering help & safety turns into almost not possible,” Mr. Lazzarini wrote on X.
Catherine Russell, the chief director of UNICEF, mentioned the continued assaults in Rafah pose “a catastrophic threat to the youngsters sheltering there,” including that many have already suffered excessive loss and hardship.
“They have to be protected, together with the few remaining primary companies and infrastructure they should survive,” Ms. Russell wrote.
