Israeli tanks have reached the center of Rafah in southern Gaza, with witnesses reporting their presence near al Awda mosque, a significant city landmark. The escalation has intensified an already dire humanitarian crisis, displacing nearly one million people.
O vernight, Israeli airstrikes targeted the Tel al-Sultan neighborhood in northwest Rafah, killing at least 16 Palestinians, according to first responders from the Palestinian Civil Defense and the Palestinian Red Crescent. The Gaza Health Ministry and the Palestinian Red Crescent reported that an attack on a displacement camp in Rafah on Sunday night resulted in at least 45 fatalities, including women, children, and the elderly. Rescuers described the scene as "unbearable," with victims' bodies burned beyond recognition.
Philippe Lazzarini, commissioner-general of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, condemned the strikes, describing Rafah as "hell on earth."
On Monday, Rafah’s Kuwaiti Hospital was declared out of service after multiple targeted attacks, one of which killed two staff members. Dr. al-Hams, the hospital director, announced that medical teams had been relocated to a field hospital in the al-Mawasi area on Gaza's coast.
In response to the escalating violence, Spain, Norway, and Ireland formally recognized a Palestinian state on Tuesday, aiming to pressure Israel to reconsider its military actions. This diplomatic move, though symbolic, marks a significant shift in international support for Palestine.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez emphasized the goal of achieving peace, while Israel’s Foreign Minister Israel Katz criticized the recognition as complicity in inciting violence against Jews.
The international community remains deeply divided, with this latest development highlighting the ongoing struggle for peace and stability in the region.
