Israeli Raid on Rafah Camp Leaves Dozens Dead: Global Outcry and Calls for Accountability
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| Israeli Raid on Rafah Camp Leaves Dozens Dead: Global Outcry and Calls for Accountability |
After the Israeli government insisted on carrying out a military operation in Rafah, despite international and regional rejection and warnings, pressure is mounting on Tel Aviv to stop the attack on the border city with Egypt, especially after the killing of dozens of Palestinians in a strike on refugee tents.
Despite Egypt's repeated warning and rejection of Israel's control of the Rafah crossing, the exchange of fire between Egyptian and Israeli forces at the crossing increases tension between the two countries, and confirms the validity of Egyptian warnings that Israel's invasion of the city of Rafah will increase tension in the region. How can this war be stopped? What is the Israeli Prime Minister betting on? How will these developments affect calm efforts?
Between calming efforts and inflaming the region
Moshe Elad, a lecturer at the Upper Galilee Academy, during his intervention with the newsroom on Sky News Arabia, denies allegations of an Israeli attack on civilian camps in the city of Rafah. He confirms that the targeting was directed at subversive elements who sought refuge among civilians.
- Israel had no intention of straining relations with Egypt or aggravating the situation in the region.
- Israel strives to maintain effective and continuous coordination in the security, military and intelligence fields with the Egyptian side.
- Israel views the killing of the Egyptian soldier during the clashes that took place on the borders of the Rafah crossing as a defensive measure taken by the Israeli soldiers, after the shooting by the Egyptian soldier.
- Initiating a high-level investigation by the Israeli authorities to clarify the circumstances of the incident.
- What happened in Rafah was not a deliberate act by Israel, as it was targeting terrorists who hid among civilians.
- What Israel is doing cannot be compared to what Hamas did on October 7th.
- Since Israel is a democratic state, it takes into account all statements issued by officials in Europe and America.
- Israel's presence today in Rafah is considered a natural matter and is considered an expected result of its taking measures to defend itself.
- The demonstrations taking place in the streets of Israel aim to call for the release of detainees.
- The silent majority in Israel confirms its support for continuing military efforts against Hamas.
Israel tried to promote its narrative
In an interview with Sky News Arabia, the head of the Middle East Forum for Strategic Studies, Dr. Samir Ghattas, said that Israel tried to promote its story that the killing of the Egyptian soldier on the border strip with Rafah occurred after clashes that began on the Egyptian side, stressing that the Egyptian statement came to refute the story. Definitely Israeli.
Ghattas added that the Egyptian statement is categorical because it responds to the narrative Israel tried to promote that the clash started from the Egyptian side, and this is a “fake argument.”
He continued: "The martyred soldier used his weapon in response to sources of Israeli fire. The matter is up to investigation. The cameras must be unloaded, and there is a joint military committee that will decide on this matter."
Ghattas stressed that "the mere presence of a full Israeli division and 4 battalions along the Philadelphia Crossing constitutes an assault on Egyptian sovereignty."
He said: “Egypt warned against the military operation in Rafah, one of its criminal features was what happened in the camps
For displaced people .”
Netanyahu's government refuses to calm down
For his part, Dr. Mohamed Ezz Al-Arab, Head of the Arab and Regional Studies Unit at Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies, stated that the current events and trends in the region are the result of the extreme right-wing policies of the Israeli government.
- Israel is trying to restore the prestige of the Israeli army after it failed to achieve the declared goals of the war, which resulted in a state of confusion within the Israeli ranks.
- Israel and its ruling leadership seek to achieve its visions, although it clearly cannot do so.
- The Israeli state of confusion is clearly evident in the inability to distinguish between Hamas targets and displaced Palestinians residing in temporary camps.
- Israel does not wish to enter into political negotiations for a ceasefire, nor does it intend to adopt a specific plan for the operation.
- The crime that happened in Rafah revealed Israeli policies and actions before the international community.
- Israel faces major challenges in maintaining its partners, leading to increasing isolation except for US support.
- Israel is gradually expanding into Rafah, but so far it has not achieved any tangible results.
Gradual increase in European recognition of the State of Palestine
During his intervention to the newsroom, writer and political researcher Majid Kayali pointed out the multiplication of dialogue about European recognition of the necessity of establishing a Palestinian state as a solution to stop the dispute and strife in Palestine, which sparked Israel’s anger.
- There are fundamental differences between Israeli policy and European policy in light of the current events in Gaza, which contributed to transforming Israel from the framework of democratic states into a state accused of committing crimes against humanity.
- Israel cannot continue to justify the killing and displacement of the Palestinian people before the international community under the pretext of fighting Hamas fighters.
- The United States appears to be the only country that supports Israeli practices, which makes it stand isolated from the rest of the world.
- Almost all European countries voted in favor of the Palestinians’ right to establish a Palestinian state, with the exception of two countries, the Czech Republic and Hungary, which joined the United States of America in objecting to the two-state solution.
- There is a clear rift between the camp of Western countries, as Israel has become a burden on these countries from a political, moral, security, and economic standpoint.
- There are serious European efforts
- cooperating with Arab efforts regarding the Palestinian issue
He added: "I am not ready to end the war before achieving all its goals, and I will not raise the flag of surrender. We will continue fighting... Pressure must be directed at Hamas, and we are doing that and fighting forcefully."
Netanyahu continued, "I hear voices denying the ability to achieve victory, and I tell them that the goal is to defeat Hamas and return the kidnapped people... I met with the families of the kidnapped people this morning and promised them that I would spare no effort to return their families to their homes."
Netanyahu said that a "catastrophic mistake" had occurred in Rafah, referring to the bombing of the tents of displaced persons by Israeli fighters on Sunday night, and stressed, "We are investigating it."
The prisoners' relatives attacked Netanyahu during the speech, demanding that he make an exchange deal with Hamas "now." The Israeli Prime Minister responded to them, saying: "Since the end of December, I have received 5 demands from the negotiating team to expand his powers, and I agreed to them."
The Israeli army confirmed that its fighters bombed a camp for displaced people in the city of Rafah, south of the Gaza Strip , which resulted in the death and injury of dozens of Palestinian civilians.
Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid attacked Netanyahu by saying: “Why are you still prime minister? How can you not go up to this podium now and ask for forgiveness from the people and return to your home?”
Lapid added, addressing Netanyahu: “You did not do your part. You failed miserably. You are an illegitimate prime minister and this government is illegitimate!”
In an interview with CNN anchor Isa Soares, Sam Rose, director of planning at the United Nations, responded to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s description of the Israeli raid on the camp in Rafah as a “tragic accident,” saying that “an accident is what happens if you ask for the wrong thing in A restaurant or if you booked a taxi at the wrong time,” adding, “This is not a respectful and dignified way to describe a tragedy of this kind.”
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