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After Israeli attacks on refugee encampments in Rafah that left dozens dead Monday, condemnation poured in from around the globe.
Video from the attack captured terrifying screams and horrific images of charred bodies and beheaded children. For nearly seven months, Rafah has been home to over one million Gazans after they were forced to relocate South by Israeli forces.
Many world leaders who have long supported “Israel’s right to defend itself” following the October 7th attacks are now joining calls for a ceasefire.
French President Emmanuel Macron expressed “outrage” over the brutal bombing.
“These operations must stop. There are no safe areas in Rafah for Palestinian civilians,” Macron tweeted. “I call for full respect for international law and an immediate ceasefire.”
Penny Wong, Australia’s Foreign Minister, also condemned the attacks in a statement posted to Twitter (X).
“Israel’s strikes [on Rafah] have had horrific and unacceptable consequences,” Wong wrote. “We must see a humanitarian ceasefire now.”
In the last six months, roughly eight in ten countries have officially called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. The International Court of Justice ruled Friday that Israel’s failure to halt its attacks in Rafah would be a violation of international law.
On Monday, one day after the massacre in Rafah, leaders of the European Union met to officially discuss sanctioning the state of Israel.
While the vast majority of the world has enhanced calls for the end to violence in Gaza over the last two days, the United States has not.
United States stops short of condemning bombing of Rafah refugee encampment
White House officials called the attacks “heartbreaking” but stopped short of joining allies in demanding a ceasefire.
“Israel has a right to go after Hamas,” the statement continued. “But as we’ve been clear, Israel must take every precaution possible to protect civilians.”
In a statement after the bombing, the Israeli Defense Force claimed it carried out a “targeted attack” against Hamas leaders. Hours later, however, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu called the massacre “a tragic mistake”.
Earlier in May, President Biden said the possibility of Israel invading Rafah would be a “red line” for him. Biden told CBS on May 8th he would stop supplying offensive weapons to Israel if an invasion occurred.
On Monday, the White House said it was “still assessing” whether the bombing of a refugee camp in Rafah crossed that red line.