The United States has called on Israel to do more to protect Palestinian civilians in Gaza, following a deadly attack on a tent camp in Rafah that left at least 45 people dead. Deputy U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Robert Wood told the Security Council that incidents like Sunday’s airstrikes undermine Israel’s strategic goals in Gaza.
Algeria has proposed a draft resolution demanding that Israel immediately halt its military offensive in Rafah. However, the U.S. has expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of U.N. action in changing the situation on the ground.
The International Court of Justice recently ruled that Israel must halt its military assault on Rafah, echoing the U.S. position that Israel should avoid a major operation that puts civilians at risk. The U.S. emphasized that while Israel has the right to defend itself against Hamas, it also has obligations to protect civilians.
Humanitarian aid access to Gaza has been severely limited, with the U.N. warning of famine looming in the enclave of 2.3 million people. The U.S. called for more aid to be safely distributed to those in need throughout Gaza.
Israel has been fighting to eradicate Hamas, which rules Gaza, following a cross-border attack in October that resulted in casualties and hostages. The conflict has claimed thousands of lives, with both sides facing international scrutiny for their actions.