Israel multiplies strikes on Tuesday, May 28, on the city of Rafah, where its soldiers began a ground operation at the beginning of May. However, international condemnations increased on Monday, the day after the deadly bombing by the Israeli army of a camp for displaced Palestinians in this town in the south of the Gaza Strip. This strike left 45 dead and 249 injured, according to a report from the Hamas Ministry of Health. Follow our live stream.
Horror grips the refugee camp. “We saw charred, dismembered bodies, (…) cases of amputations, injured children, women and elderly people”, testified Mohammed al-Mughayyir, a Civil Defense official in the Gaza Strip. After the bombing, a fire devastated the Barkasat displaced persons camp, managed by the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA).
Benyamin Netanyahu regrets “a tragic accident”. “We are investigating what happened and we will draw conclusions”, reacted the Israeli Prime Minister on Monday. The Israeli army has confirmed that it is investigating the deaths of civilian victims in the displaced persons camp. Initially, she claimed to have targeted two senior Hamas officials with “precise ammunition”.
Several European countries will recognize the State of Palestine. As announced a week earlier,Spain, Norway and Ireland will recognize the State of Palestine at a press conference in Brussels. An announcement which aroused the ire of Israel. At the same time, the Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, “pushes other EU leaders to recognize the Palestinian state”political scientist Maria Elisa Alonso explains to franceinfo.
Negotiations are at a standstill. A key mediator with Qatar and the United States in diplomatic efforts to achieve a ceasefire, Egypt condemned a “deliberate bombing by Israeli forces on displaced people’s tents”. Qatar also warned that Israeli strikes in Rafah could “complicate mediation efforts”.