Rafah

Save the Children UK Condemns Attacks on Civilians in Rafah, Calls for Immediate Ceasefire

In the wake of four days of devastating attacks on "safe zones" in Rafah, southern Gaza, Save the Children is urging world leaders to take immediate action to protect civilians. The latest attacks have killed at least 66 people, including children, and wounded hundreds more, despite an International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling ordering Israel to halt its military offensive in Rafah.

The attacks have targeted displaced persons camps, killing and injuring women and children who had sought safety there. On Tuesday, a major attack hit a camp, killing 21 people, including women and children, and wounding 64 others. On Sunday, an Israeli attack on a camp for displaced people from Rafah killed 45 people and injured 250, mostly women and children.

Xavier Joubert, Save the Children's Country Director in the occupied Palestinian Territory, condemned the escalation of violence, saying: "We are staggered by this further escalation of violence against children and families, especially after the ICJ ruling ordering Israel to cease its military activity in Rafah. The ICJ's ruling creates legal obligations that must be adhered to. Instead, these obligations are being categorically ignored."

Joubert emphasized that civilians in Gaza have nowhere safe to flee, as they are constantly being attacked and directed to areas that are then targeted by Israeli forces. He highlighted the devastating impact on children's mental and physical health, including unimaginable mental harm, physical injuries, and loss of families, homes, and schools.

Liz Bradshaw, Senior Conflict & Humanitarian Adviser at Save the Children UK, strongly condemned the attacks and called for an immediate ceasefire. She urged the UK government to suspend arms sales to Israel and demand an end to the violence.

The UN Security Council is meeting to pass a resolution to end the killing in Gaza. Save the Children is urging world leaders to take immediate action to protect civilians and ensure a definitive ceasefire. The organization emphasizes that the only way to save children's lives is to stop the violence now.