The Israel-Hamas conflict continues to escalate, with Israeli shelling and airstrikes killing at least 37 people, most of whom were sheltering in tents outside the southern Gaza city of Rafah. The attacks targeted the same area where a deadly fire broke out in a camp for displaced Palestinians, sparking international outrage.
The Israeli military suggested that Sunday’s blaze in the tent camp may have been caused by secondary explosions from Palestinian militants’ weapons. The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but initial findings indicate that the Israeli munitions used were too small to be the source.
The assault on Rafah, which began on May 6, has forced over 1 million people to flee the city, according to the UN agency helping Palestinian refugees. Families are now scattered across makeshift tent camps and other war-ravaged areas, adding to the already dire humanitarian situation in the region.
Despite warnings from the United States and other allies against a full-fledged offensive in Rafah, the US State Department has not indicated that Israel has crossed any red lines. National security spokesman John Kirby stated that Israel has not violated President Joe Biden’s conditions for future arms transfers, as they have not launched a major ground invasion into the city.
Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron has reaffirmed that recognizing a Palestinian state is not a taboo for France, but the decision must be made at a “useful moment” and not as an emotional reaction to the events in Rafah. Macron called for an immediate ceasefire and full respect for international law in the conflict.