On 28 May 2024, Gaza emergency services reported that four tank artillery shells struck a tent city in the Al-Mawasi humanitarian zone west of Rafah, hitting a group of tents and killing at least 21 people, at least 12 of whom were women, and injuring 64 people, including 10 in a critical condition.[1][2] The strike occurred in an area designated as an expanded humanitarian zone by Israel in the wake of the Rafah offensive which has led to the mass displacement of Palestinian civilians to tent cities outside of the city.[3]
| May 2024 Al-Mawasi refugee camp attack | |
|---|---|
| Part of the Rafah offensive of the Israel–Hamas war | |
  Al-Mawasi Location within the Gaza Strip | |
| Location | al-Mawasi, Rafah Governorate, Gaza Strip |
| Coordinates | 31°19′44″N 34°13′48″E / 31.32889°N 34.23000°E |
| Date | 28 May 2024 |
Attack type | Tank shelling |
| Deaths | 21+ Palestinian civilians |
| Injured | 64 Palestinian civilians |
| Perpetrator |  Israel Defense Forces |
This attack came two days after a 26 May attack on a UNRWA refugee camp in the Tel al-Sultan neighborhood that killed 45–50 civilians,[4] and four days after a 24 May legally binding order by the International Court of Justice for Israel to immediately stop its Rafah offensive due to the risk to civilians.[5]
The Israel Defense Forces denied attacking the area on 28 May.[6] The New York Times published a video showing the aftermath of the attack on al-Mawasi.[7]
Background
After evacuation orders were issued by Israel during the Israel–Hamas war, many areas of Gaza became depopulated, with refugees primarily traveling to Rafah. Rafah became dense and overcrowded, with over 1.4 million civilians sheltering in the area.[8] However, when Israel invaded the city, it ordered the eastern neighborhoods evacuated as well. An estimated 950,000 civilians fled, going to other parts of southern Gaza designated as safe, including western Rafah.[9]
Four days before the attack, the International Court of Justice ordered Israel to halt the Rafah offensive,[10] but Israel interpreted the order differently and continued its operations.[11]
Despite global outrage and calls from government officials from around the world to halt its Rafah offensive, less than 48 hours after the Tel al-Sultan massacre, Israel shelled the Al-Mawasi refugee camp in a designated civilian evacuation zone, killing at least 21 people, more than half of them women and girls.[12]
Attack and aftermath
On 28 May, two days after the deadly Tel al-Sultan massacre,[13] a cluster of tents were hit by shells in the designated humanitarian zone of Al-Mawasi. Gazan emergency services reported that the tents were hit from tank fire, while Wafa reported that tents were hit by Israeli airstrikes. 21 people were killed and 64 other were injured from the shelling, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.[14][15][16]
Al Jazeera's reporter Hind Khoudary said: "Thirteen out of 21 people killed by Israel in the air strike on the so-called "safe area" of al-Mawasi were civilian women and girls".[17][18]
Following the attack, several aid organisations in this part of the city were forced to close their operations and move them to other parts of the Gaza Strip, including the Al Quds field hospital run by the Palestine Red Crescent Society, a clinic supported by Doctors Without Borders and kitchens run by the World Central Kitchen.[19][20][21]
Palestinians reported another assault at Al-Mawasi on 13 June, by Israeli navy boats firing heavy machine guns.[22][23]
Reactions
Finland: Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen said in a post on X: "Devastated by news from Rafah on Israeli strikes killing dozens of civilians, including small children, Finland has consistently urged Israel to refrain from attacking Rafah with high numbers of displaced people. ICJ orders and international humanitarian law must be respected by all parties."[17]- The secretary general of Doctors Without Borders Chris Lockyear said in a statement: "Civilians are being massacred. They are being pushed into areas they were told would be safe only to be subjected to relentless airstrikes and heavy fighting."[19]
- 19 aid groups said in a joint statement: "As Israeli attacks intensify on Rafah, the unpredictable trickle of aid into Gaza has created a mirage of improved access, while the humanitarian response is in reality on the verge of collapse."[19][24][25]
See also
References
- ^ Al-Mughrabi, Nidal (28 May 2024). "Israeli tanks hit evacuation zone west of Rafah". Reuters.
- ^ "At least 21 killed in Israeli attacks on tent camp near Gaza's Rafah". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 2024-05-28. Retrieved 2024-05-29.
- ^ AAP (2024-05-28). "Israeli tanks hit evacuation zone west of Rafah". The Queenslander. Retrieved 2024-05-28.
- ^ Ebrahim, Nadeen (2024-05-27). "Israeli strike that killed 45 at camp for displaced Palestinians in Rafah a 'tragic error,' Netanyahu says". CNN. Archived from the original on 2024-05-27. Retrieved 2024-05-28.
- ^ Nashed, Mat. "ICJ rules Israel must stop Rafah operation, what's next?". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 2024-05-28. Retrieved 2024-05-28.
- ^ "Israel did not strike humanitarian area, says IDF spokesperson". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. 2024-05-28. Archived from the original on 2024-05-28. Retrieved 2024-05-28.
- ^ "Video: Strike Kills Displaced Gazans in Al-Mawasi, Officials Say". The New York Times. 28 May 2024. Archived from the original on 29 May 2024. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
Video says "Al-Mawasi, Gaza, May 28" starting at the 0:02 mark.
- ^ "ActionAid: Conditions in Rafah at breaking point, with over one million displaced people". Wafa agency.
- ^ Fabian, Emanuel (20 May 2024). "IDF estimates 950,000 Gazans have evacuated from Rafah amid offensive". The Times of Israel. Archived from the original on 27 May 2024. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
- ^ Haque, Adil Ahmad (25 May 2024). "Halt: The International Court of Justice and the Rafah Offensive". Just Security. Archived from the original on 28 May 2024. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
Israel must refrain from any action in Rafah that risks killing a substantial part of the Palestinian group, either through bombardment or through displacement to areas where they will not long survive. The Court found that Israel's current military offensive is such an action...This military offensive must immediately halt.
- ^ "Isolated Israel argues ICJ ruling leaves door open to Rafah offensive". NBC News. 27 May 2024. Archived from the original on 29 May 2024. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
It was widely viewed as an unambiguous statement: The top United Nations court ordered Israel to immediately halt its military assault on Rafah
- ^ "International Outrage Over Israel's Rafah Tent Massacre Has Not Slowed IDF Offensive". HuffPost. 28 May 2024. Archived from the original on 29 May 2024. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
- ^ "IDF suspects Hamas artillery caused deadly fire in Rafah, investigation ongoing". i24 news. 28 May 2024. Archived from the original on 29 May 2024. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
- ^ "Israel denies strike on camp near Rafah that Gaza officials say killed 21 people". Reuters. 29 May 2024. Archived from the original on 28 May 2024. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
- ^ "At least 21 killed in Israeli attacks on tent camp near Gaza's Rafah". Al Jazeera. 28 May 2024. Archived from the original on 28 May 2024. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
- ^ "Israeli strike on humanitarian zone near Gaza's Rafah kills 'at least 21'". Middle East Eye. 28 May 2024. Archived from the original on 28 May 2024. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
- ^ a b "Israel's war on Gaza updates: New massacre of displaced civilians in Rafah". Al Jazeera. 28 May 2024. Archived from the original on 29 May 2024. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
- ^ "Gazan Officials Say a Strike Killed 21 in Al-Mawasi". The New York Times. 28 May 2024. Archived from the original on 28 May 2024. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
- ^ a b c "Aid Groups in Rafah Say Israel's Advance Is Pushing Them Out". The New York Times. 29 May 2024. Archived from the original on 30 May 2024. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
- ^ "Carnage in Tal Al-Sultan camp: States supporting Israel's military operations are complicit in the massacre of civilians in Rafah, Gaza". Doctors Without Borders. 30 May 2024. Archived from the original on 30 May 2024. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
- ^ "Amid ongoing Israeli incursions into Gaza, aid facilities shut 'one after another'". Doctors Without Borders. 30 May 2024. Archived from the original on 30 May 2024. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
- ^ Lilieholm, Lucas (13 June 2024). "Israel denies hitting designated 'safe zone' following Palestinian news agency report". CNN. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
- ^ "Occupation forces launch ground, air attacks on Mawasi tent city of displaced persons in Rafah, casualties reported". WAFA News Agency. 13 June 2024. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
- ^ "Amid ongoing Israeli incursions into Gaza, aid facilities shut 'one after another'". United Nations. 30 May 2024. Archived from the original on 30 May 2024. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
- ^ "Gaza: New crossing points and 'floating dock' are cosmetic changes, as humanitarian access disintegrates in Gaza, warn aid agencies". Reliefweb.int. 28 May 2024. Archived from the original on 29 May 2024. Retrieved 30 May 2024.