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The United Nations Security Council has scheduled an emergency meeting for today following a deadly Israeli airstrike on a displaced persons camp in Rafah, a city in southern Gaza.
NEW DELHI: The United Nations Security Council has scheduled an emergency meeting for today following a deadly Israeli airstrike on a displaced persons camp in Rafah, a city in southern Gaza. The meeting was requested by Algeria, a non-permanent member of the council, due to the severity of the incident.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu referred to the attack, which occurred on Monday, as a “tragic mistake.” The strike led to a fire at a camp where many displaced Palestinians had sought refuge. Local officials reported that the attack resulted in the deaths of at least 45 people.
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“Despite our utmost efforts not to harm innocent civilians, last night there was a tragic mistake,” Netanyahu said in an address to Israel’s parliament. “We are investigating the incident and will obtain a conclusion, because this is our policy.”
This airstrike has intensified international criticism of Israel amid its ongoing conflict with Hamas, with even Israel’s closest allies expressing concern over the rising civilian casualties.
Rafah, located at Gaza’s southernmost border with Egypt, has been a temporary home for over a million people, roughly half of Gaza’s population, who were displaced from other areas within the territory. However, with Israel’s recent limited incursion in the area, the majority of these displaced persons have had to flee once again.
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Sunday night’s airstrike is considered one of the deadliest incidents in the current conflict, bringing the total Palestinian death toll to over 36,000, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.
The conflict was triggered by Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7, in which Palestinian militants killed around 1,200 people and took approximately 250 hostages. Hamas continues to hold about 100 hostages and the remains of around 30 others after most were released during a ceasefire last year.
In Gaza, about 80% of the 2.3 million residents have been displaced from their homes. Severe hunger is widespread, and parts of the territory are experiencing famine, according to United Nations officials.
The international community is closely watching the developments, and the UN Security Council’s emergency session is expected to address the urgent humanitarian crisis and discuss potential steps to prevent further civilian casualties.
