28-5-2024 (GAZA) A catastrophic scene unfolded in the besieged Gaza Strip as an Israeli airstrike triggered a massive inferno that ripped through a densely populated tent camp in Rafah, claiming at least 45 lives. The harrowing incident on the evening of May 26 drew widespread condemnation from global leaders, who urged Israel to comply with a recent International Court of Justice ruling demanding an immediate halt to its offensive on the Palestinian enclave.
As night fell upon the western Rafah neighborhood, designated as a supposed safe zone, Palestinian families were making preparations to retire when the airstrike rained down destruction. Tents and makeshift shelters were swiftly engulfed in raging flames, forcing panicked residents to flee the hellish scene as smoke billowed into the sky.
“The whole world is witnessing Rafah getting burned up by Israel, and no one is doing anything to stop it,” lamented Bassam, a local resident communicating via messaging app, his anguish palpable in the wake of the devastating strike on the war-ravaged city.
Survivors recounted the horror of that fateful evening, vividly describing how the serenity of evening prayers and bedtime rituals was shattered by the thunderous blast and ensuing inferno. “We were praying…getting our children’s beds ready to sleep. There was nothing unusual. Then, we heard a very loud noise, and fire erupted around us,” recalled Umm Mohamed Al-Attar, her voice trembling.
The Tel Al-Sultan neighborhood, where thousands had sought refuge from Israel’s ground offensive in eastern Rafah over two weeks prior, became a nightmarish scene of charred remains and anguished wails. Footage captured the raging flames devouring the camp, as frantic young men scrambled to douse the blaze with meager resources while transporting the wounded to safety.
Health officials grimly reported that many of the deceased were women, children, and elderly individuals, with the death toll expected to rise further as critical burn victims fought for their lives. The Israeli military claimed the strike precisely targeted Hamas officials in retaliation for rocket fire, but its chief military prosecutor acknowledged the “grave” incident, pledging an investigation.
Global condemnation poured in as shocking images emerged from Rafah. French President Emmanuel Macron voiced outrage, asserting, “These operations must stop. There are no safe areas in Rafah for Palestinian civilians.” Germany’s Annalena Baerbock and EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell echoed calls for Israel to respect the International Court’s ruling demanding a cessation of hostilities.
