Airstrikes Following International Court of Justice's Order to Cease Attacks on Rafa
Despite the International Court of Justice (ICJ)'s order to cease attacks on Rafah, the southernmost part of the Gaza Strip, the Israeli military continued airstrikes, resulting in the deaths of at least 20 Rafah refugees.
On the 26th (local time), major foreign media outlets including the Associated Press (AP) cited Palestinian emergency medical teams operating in the Gaza Strip, reporting that at least 22 people lost their lives when the Israeli military airstruck refugee tents in Rafah. The Hamas-led Gaza government counted the death toll at a minimum of 30. Dozens of others were injured, and the Palestinian Red Crescent spokesperson stated via social media platform X that the death toll could rise further.
The Gaza side claims that the airstrike area was designated as a humanitarian zone by Israel. Earlier this month, Israel issued evacuation orders to residents to move to humanitarian zones just before the Rafah airstrikes. The Israeli military has refrained from making specific comments regarding the recent Rafah airstrikes.
There is also analysis suggesting that the airstrikes may be retaliatory attacks against the simultaneous long-range rocket barrage targeting central Israel, including Tel Aviv, launched from Gaza that day. This is because the Israeli response came just hours after Hamas fired long-range rockets from Gaza for the first time since January. The AP reported that there have been no casualty reports from the Hamas rocket attacks.
Earlier, on the 24th, the ICJ issued an order for Israel to halt airstrikes on Rafah, but Israel maintains its position to continue attacking Rafah, considered Hamas's last stronghold. The Israeli military continued airstrikes on Rafah and the central area of Deir al-Balah in the Gaza Strip even the day after the Rafah airstrike cessation order. The Gaza Ministry of Health has reported that approximately 36,000 Palestinians have died due to the Israel-Hamas war. However, this figure includes both civilians and combatants.
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