1.4 million people, more than half of Gaza’s population, take refuge
Netanyahu presses ahead: “Is this a war zone?”
WSJ “U.S.-Israel in complete conflict”
At least dozens of people were killed on the 12th when Israel attacked Rafah, the southernmost city in the Gaza Strip, despite opposition from the international community, including the United States. Rafah, which borders Egypt, is where 1.4 million civilians who have come to the south to escape the war between Israel and the Palestinian armed group Hamas are concentrated, and is a major gateway through which relief supplies from the international community enter. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu refuted the international community’s criticism of the airstrikes in the area, saying, “Are you saying we should lose the war?”
The exact number of casualties from today’s attack has not yet been determined. However, according to the Times of Israel, the Gaza Strip Health Ministry of Hamas announced that about 100 civilians were killed in Rafah in the early morning of the same day due to bombing using fighter jets and tanks of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). Currently, it is estimated that 1.4 million people, more than half of the population of 2.3 million people in the Gaza Strip, are staying in the Rafah area, which is called the last refuge in the Gaza Strip, saying, “There is no place to escape anymore.”
Israel, which retaliated after being attacked by Hamas on October 7 last year, carried out ground operations in the northern and central Gaza Strip and has recently gradually carried out attacks on Rafah. As a result, the risk of mass murder of civilians has increased, sparking concern in the international community.
This attack took place immediately after U.S. President Joe Biden conveyed to Prime Minister Netanyahu in a phone call on the 11th that “military operations should not be carried out in Rafah before the safety of the residents is secured.” Previously, on the 8th, President Biden criticized Israel’s recent attack, saying it had “crossed the line.” The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) quoted former Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Michael Oren and reported that “the United States and Israel are ‘completely at odds’” regarding how to conduct the war.
View largerIsrael reveals ‘hostage rescue’ A photo released by the Israeli military on the 12th, saying that it rescued two hostages from Rafah, Gaza Strip and moved them to a medical facility in the country. Ramat Gan = AP NewsisOn the same day, Prime Minister Netanyahu appeared on ABC’s ‘This Week’ and said, “The admonition not to enter Rafah under any circumstances is basically saying that we should lose the war and leave Hamas alone,” and added, “It is a story that has no room for second thought, and victory is a victory.” “It’s just around the corner,” he dismissed. He also added that he is making efforts to reduce civilian casualties, including instructing the military on evacuation plans for refugees. The IDF rescued two male hostages held by Hamas in an attack on the 12th.
Neighboring Arab countries are all protesting. Egypt strongly criticized Israel through an official statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, saying, “It is a violation of international law, international humanitarian law, etc.” According to Al-Ahram, an Egyptian media outlet, there was a strong warning that if the Israeli ground forces advanced on Rafah, they would stop the ‘Camp David Peace Agreement’ that led to the end of the 1978 Israel-Egypt War.
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Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.