(USNewsMag.com) – World leaders are horrified after Israel’s May 26th airstrike on a “safe zone” in the Tel al-Sultan neighborhood of Rafah in southern Gaza killed more than 45 civilians and injured 200.
Following the airstrike, Israeli officials stated two senior Hamas commanders were killed in the attack, and a significant number of civilian casualties was not expected. However, after the airstrike, scenes showed a different story in the area. Israel had previously designated the area hit as a “safe zone,” telling citizens and displaced refugees “to head to these safe areas,” according to the Gaza government media office.
French President Emmanuel Macron responded to the airstrike by saying he was “outraged” and calling for a stop to Israel’s operations in Gaza and “an immediate cease-fire.”
European Union (EU) foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, condemned the airstrike, adding he was “horrified” to hear about it.
Labor Party leader Keir Starmer, who is running for prime minister of the United Kingdom, called the scenes “horrifying,” adding the situation was worse because it was a safe zone filled with families.
Turkish President Recep Tayyib Erdogan called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “barbaric.”
Egypt’s foreign minister said the attack on Palestinian civilians was “deliberate” and a “violation of international humanitarian law.”
Qatar also stated it condemned the attack in “the strongest terms.”
Two days before the airstrike, on May 24th, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which is a top court for the United Nations, had ordered an immediate ceasefire in Rafah, stating that might be a violation of Israel’s obligations under the Genocide Convention. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said the ICJ’s rulings are “binding” and must “be followed.”
On May 27th, Netanyahu also issued a statement, calling the airstrike a “tragic mistake,” adding that something “went tragically wrong” despite Israel’s efforts “not to harm noncombatants.” The Israel Defense Forces also announced it was launching an investigation into the circumstances that led to the death of civilians as a result of the airstrike.
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