Tel Aviv [Israel], May 28: Many countries are concerned, condemn, and call for a ceasefire after Israel's airstrike in the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip killed many refugees.
AFP news agency reported on May 28 that Israel faced a wave of condemnation from many countries after an airstrike led to a fire that killed 45 people in a refugee camp in the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip.
Israel said it was investigating the "tragic accident" and the consequences for civilians after the incident on the evening of May 26. The Israeli army said the attack in the southern area of the city of Rafah killed two senior members of Hamas, but caused a fire that condemned many countries.
Writing on social networks, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said that "there is no safe place in Gaza" and "this terrible thing must stop". Meanwhile, the United Nations Security Council will convene a meeting today, May 28, to discuss the incident. The meeting was held at the request of Algeria, a non-permanent member.
Regional response
The attack led to protests from Egypt and Qatar, two countries that acted as intermediaries in efforts to restore peace in Gaza, as well as many countries in the region.
Egypt condemned the "targeting of defenseless civilians", calling it part of a "systematic policy to expand the scope of death and destruction in the Gaza Strip, making it impossible to can live".
Jordan accused Israel of "ongoing war crimes," Saudi Arabia condemned "continued massacres," and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed "to hold barbarians and murderers to death." This person must be responsible."
Qatar condemned the "dangerous violation of international law" and expressed "concern that the bombing will further complicate ongoing mediation efforts" towards a ceasefire agreement.
African Union President Moussa Faki Mahamat accused "Israel of continuing to violate international law... disregarding the ruling of the International Court of Justice two days ago requiring Israel to end its military action in Rafah." .
The West is concerned
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said he was "horrified by the news from Rafah about Israeli attacks that killed dozens of displaced people, including young children".
"I condemn this in the strongest terms," he emphasized, saying that EU foreign ministers agreed to convene a meeting with Israel to find an explanation.
The US government said Israel must do more to protect civilians. A US National Security Council spokesman called on Israel to "take every possible precaution to protect civilians", and said the US is actively coordinating with the Israeli military and its partners. on the ground to assess what happened.
On the French side, President Emmanuel Macron wrote on social network fully respect international law and cease fire immediately," he emphasized.
Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said Ottawa was "appalled" and called for an immediate ceasefire. "Canada does not support Israel's military activity in Rafah . This level of human suffering must end," she said.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper
