The African Union, the United Nations, and other world leaders have condemned Israel’s killing of over 45 people in a civilian refugee camp in the Gaza city of Rafah on Sunday night.
An airstrike by the Israeli military reportedly triggered a fire that killed at least 45 people in a tent camp in Rafah, where Israel claimed it was targeting Hamas Generals.
Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu admitted the killing of civilians after an initial denial. He has also refused to comply with an order by the International Court of Justice ordering Israel to halt the assault in Gaza.
Meanwhile, the latest massacre of civilians has triggered a global outcry, with many International organisations, such as the AU and the UN, and countries rebuking Israel.
According to the AU Chairperson, Moussa Faki Mahamat, “The State of Israel continues to violate international law with impunity and in contempt of an ICJ ruling two days ago ordering an end to its military action in Rafah.”
The UN humanitarian aid chief, Martin Griffiths, described the Rafah massacre as “possibly the most cruel abomination”, while the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, added that “this horror must stop!”
Countries that have condemned the killing include Qatar, Chile, Egypt, Colombia, France, Turkey, and the European Union.
While Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro described it as a “massacre”; Chile, in its condemnation, tagged it an “indiscriminate attack by the [Israeli military] on a civilian refugee camp in Rafah”.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey, while condemning the massacre, said: “We will do everything possible to hold these barbarians and murderers accountable who have nothing to do with humanity.”