May 28, 2024
About a million people flee fighting in Rafah – UNRWA
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) said that about one million people have fled the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip since Israel intensified its attack there in the past three weeks.
“This happened with nowhere safe to go amid bombings, food and water shortages, piles of waste, and unsuitable living conditions,” the agency wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
“Day after day, providing assistance and protection becomes almost impossible,” she added.
Israel went ahead with its attack despite a legally binding order issued by the International Court of Justice to “immediately halt its military offensive in Rafah.”
The court described the humanitarian situation in Gaza as “catastrophic” and “catastrophic.”
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May 28, 2024
Spain, Ireland and Norway recognize the Palestinian state
Spain, Ireland and Norway are scheduled to formally recognize Palestinian statehood on Tuesday.
They will join more than 140 UN member states in doing so.
Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Malta, Poland and Romania recognized Palestinian statehood before joining the European Union, while Sweden offered its recognition in 2014.
Slovenia said it would decide whether to recognize Palestinian statehood on Thursday.
On Monday, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz accused Spain of “rewarding terrorism” by recognizing the Palestinian state.
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May 28, 2024
Guterres, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, condemns the Israeli strike
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the deadly Israeli air strike that killed dozens in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip.
The attack, which occurred on Sunday, sparked international condemnation. Israel said the incident was being investigated.
“I condemn the actions of Israel, which killed dozens of innocent civilians who were merely seeking shelter from this deadly conflict,” Guterres said in a post on Platform X, previously Twitter.
“There is no safe place in Gaza. The terror must stop.”
Volker Türk, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, also expressed his condemnation of the strike.
Turk said: “The pictures from the camp are horrific and do not indicate any clear change in the methods and means of war used by Israel, which have already led to the death of many civilians.”
He called on Israel to stop its military attack in Rafah and comply with the order of the International Court of Justice.
https://p.dw.com/p/4gM3U
May 28, 2024
The UN Security Council holds a meeting after the Rafah strike
The UN Security Council is scheduled to hold a closed-door emergency meeting in the wake of the deadly Israeli air strike that hit the southern Gaza Strip, according to diplomats.
The meeting was held at the request of Algeria, the Arab representative in the Council, and with the support of Slovenia.
The Ministry of Health in the Hamas-ruled enclave said 45 people were killed and dozens wounded in the air strike that hit tents housing displaced people.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu She described the strike as a “tragic mistake” and said the incident was being investigated.
sdi/fb (AFP, AFP, Reuters, dpa)
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