Israeli forces shelled a tent camp situated within a designated safe zone west of Rafah, killing at least 21 Palestinian civilians, including 13 women and girls.
Reports from The New York Times shed light on the origins of munitions used in Israeli airstrikes in Rafah. Evidence suggests that bombs responsible for a deadly airstrike, which killed at least 50 civilians, were manufactured in the United States.
Meanwhile, the UN Security Council convened an emergency meeting to address Israel’s ground invasion of Rafah, which has forced over one million people to flee their homes.
Despite international efforts to deliver aid to the region, the UN reports that only a fraction of the required humanitarian supplies have reached Gaza. The closure of the Rafah crossing has worsened the suffering of Palestinians trapped in the conflict zone.
Since the start of its war on Gaza on 7 October, Israel has killed at least 36,171 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and wounded 81,420 others.
Amid intensified Israeli attacks on Gaza, Spain, Ireland, and Norway formally recognised the state of Palestine, pointing out the urgency of finding a resolution to the longstanding conflict. The three countries hope their decision will encourage other European nations to follow their lead and reinvigorate diplomatic efforts to help achieve a ceasefire in Gaza.
The decision to recognise Palestinians’ right to self-determination and statehood has angered Israel, which reacted by withdrawing its ambassadors from Ireland, Norway, and Spain and formally reprimanding their envoys in Tel Aviv.
The announcement comes on the heels of two international courts calling on Israel to end its military onslaught in southern Gaza, accusing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
