Security Council to hold emergency meeting – DW – 05/28/2024

Israeli troops, including tanks, were seen in Rafah city center on Tuesday, news agencies reported, citing eyewitnesses.

Witnesses told Reuters they saw Israeli tanks near the Al Awda mosque in Rafah. Meanwhile, Israeli news site ynet reported that tanks had been sent to the Tal al-Sultan neighborhood, where an Israeli attack on Sunday killed dozens of people, including women and children living in refugee tents.

Israel has not confirmed the reports, but has said it will continue its operations in Rafah despite widespread condemnation of Sunday’s attack and pressure from its closest allies over the decision to send troops into Rafah in the first place.

Most of Gaza’s population took refuge in Rafah. However, many have fled in recent weeks, fearing a new Israeli crackdown on the southern city, which borders Egypt.

According to Reuters, Rafah residents reported overnight airstrikes and one of the worst nights on Tank Island, with Israel determined to continue its operation in the face of international isolation.

UNRWA, the United Nations agency for Palestine refugees, says about a million people have fled the southern Gaza city of Rafah in the past three weeks as Israel stepped up its offensive.

“This happened amidst nowhere safe to go & bombings, lack of food & water, piles of waste and inadequate living conditions,” Company X previously wrote on Twitter.

“On a day-to-day basis, it is almost impossible to provide assistance and protection,” it added.

Israel has gone ahead with its offensive in defiance of the International Court of Justice’s legal order to “immediately cease the military offensive in Rafah”.

The court characterized the humanitarian situation in Gaza as “disastrous” and “disastrous”.

Spain, Ireland and Norway will formally recognize the Palestinian Authority on Tuesday.

They will join more than 140 UN member states.

Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Malta, Poland and Romania recognized the Palestinian state before joining the EU, while Sweden gave its recognition in 2014.

Slovenia says it will make a decision on whether to recognize the Palestinian state on Thursday.

On Monday, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz accused Spain of “rewarding terrorism” by recognizing a Palestinian state.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has condemned Israeli airstrikes that killed dozens of people in Rafah, southern Gaza.

Sunday’s strike sparked international condemnation. Israel said it was investigating the incident.

“I condemn Israel’s actions that have killed so many innocent civilians seeking refuge from this deadly conflict,” Guterres said in a post on X site on Twitter.

“There is no safe place in Gaza. The horror must stop.”

UN human rights chief Volker Durk also condemned the strike.

“The images taken from the camp are horrific and do not indicate a clear change in the methods and methods of warfare used by Israel, which have already led to many civilian deaths,” Turk said.

He called on Israel to end its military offensive in Rafah and to comply with the International Court of Justice (ICJ) order.

EU calls on Israel to respect UN court order on Rafah

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The United Nations Security Council is set to hold a closed-door emergency meeting following Israeli airstrikes on the southern Gaza Strip, according to diplomats.

The meeting was requested by Algeria, the Council’s Arab representative, and supported by Slovenia.

The Hamas-ruled Health Ministry said 45 people were killed and dozens wounded in airstrikes that hit tents housing displaced people.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu It said the strike was an “unfortunate mistake” and an investigation into the incident was underway.

sdi/fb (AP, AFP, Reuters, dpa)