Israeli Artillery Strikes Kill at Least 21 in Gaza Tent Encampment

At least 21 people were killed in a tent encampment near Rafah’s coast on Tuesday by Israeli artillery fire, sparking outrage and condemnation from international aid agencies and governments.

The strikes, which also injured at least 64 people, several critically, occurred outside “evacuation zones” designated by Israel during its military offensive in Rafah. Witnesses described hearing explosions around 2:30 p.m. local time, with one witness, Nidal Wahba, describing the aftermath as bodies thrown everywhere and his own daughter suffering from a head injury.

The Israel Defense Forces denied striking in the humanitarian area in al-Mawasi, but witnesses reported the strikes occurring just south of the designated zone. First responders in Rafah reported several Israeli attacks during the day, including airstrikes and artillery fire.

The strikes came as the Israeli military announced the preliminary results of an investigation into another deadly strike at a tent camp in Rafah that killed 45 people. The ongoing investigation is looking into the possibility of secondary explosions linked to weapons stored in a compound next to the target.

International aid agencies, including Oxfam and the Norwegian Refugee Council, called on the U.N. Security Council to enforce an order by the International Court of Justice for Israel to halt military operations in Rafah. Despite the legal order, the bloodshed has continued, the agencies said.

In response to the escalating violence, Spain, Ireland, and Norway formally recognized a Palestinian state on Tuesday, with officials citing the need for historical justice and peace. Egypt is also investigating a shooting incident in the Rafah border area that killed a member of its security forces, with Israel confirming a shooting and launching its own investigation.

The Gaza Health Ministry reported that over 36,000 people have been killed and 81,000 injured in Gaza since the war started, with the majority of the dead being women and children. Israel estimates over 1,200 people were killed in Hamas’s attack, including more than 300 soldiers, and 287 soldiers have been killed since the launch of military operations in Gaza.

The escalating violence and humanitarian crisis in Rafah have drawn international attention and calls for an immediate ceasefire to protect civilians and provide much-needed aid to those affected by the conflict.