Netanyahu Calls The Brutal Rafah Attack A "Tragic Mistake", EU Discusses Sanctions On Israel
Israel has crossed all the red lines of humanity with its latest attack on Rafah, burning alive at least 45 Palestinians. The air strike on tents near UNRWA refugee camp has left behind charred and dismembered bodies of the civilians who were seeking last resort of safety from the brutal war. Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s comment regarding the attack has garnered wide spread agitation. Netanyahu called Israel’s “precise attack” on Rafah as a “tragic mistake”.
The attack came a day after the International Court of Justice (ICJ) asked Tel Aviv to quit all offense on Rafah. The air strike hit the area which the Israel called a “safe zone”. Netanyahu said “In Rafah, we evacuated a million uninvolved residents and, despite our best efforts, a tragic accident happened yesterday”.
In the wake of the attack, the European Union minster discuss sanctions on Israel it the latter continue to ignore ICJ’s order to withdraw from Rafah, said Ireland’s Foreign Minister Micheal Martin. He said that the imposition of EU sanctions was discussed as a possible measure to be taken if Israel does not comply with the ICJ’s ruling to halt its attack on Rafah, as reported by Irish public broadcaster RTE.
He said Ireland would support the sanctions, and added that it is the first time he witnessed EU ministers holding a “significant discussion on sanctions”.
The attack has garnered widespread condemnation against Israel. Those condemned also include European Union, France, and United Nations.
Israel said the attack was based on “precise intelligence information” regarding the whereabouts of two Hamas militants, who the former said were killed during the attack.
Benjamin Netanyahu took a defensive tone against the internal and external criticism over his conduct of war. While addressing Knesset, the Israeli parliament, he said there is no substitute for absolute glory. Citing the pressure on him to call off the brutal assault on the innocent civilians of Gaza in the name of targeting Hamas, Netanyahu said he will not give up.
Listing out the calls to refrain from military operations which his force carried out anyway, Netanyahu said, “don’t enter Gaza. We entered! Do not enter Shifa! We entered! Do not enter Khan Yunis! We entered! Do not enter Rafah! We entered! I don”t give up and I won”t give up! I stand up to pressures from home and abroad”.
The attack killed 45 and wounded over 249, said Gaza Health ministry. The wounded were taken to field hospitals and remaining working hospitals since most of the coastal enclave’s hospitals are either destroyed or are forced to evacuate by the Israeli occupation force.
It is to note that 24 hours into the widely condemned Rafah attack, Israel has hit Rafah again, killing at least seven. A witness told Al Jazeera that, “it is a safe zone that is crawling with tents and displaced people. Suddenly, a missile fell on the residence, which was built using some blocks and metal tubing. We saw people out in the street, displaced people and citizens. There were no combatants or anything. It was a safe zone!”
