May 2024 Al-Mawasi refugee camp attack explained

Location:al-Mawasi, Rafah Governorate, Gaza Strip
Date:28 May 2024
Partof:the Rafah offensive of the Israel–Hamas war
Coordinates:31.3289°N 34.23°W
Fatalities:21+ Palestinian civilians
Injuries:64 Palestinian civilians
Type:Tank shelling

On 28 May 2024, Gaza emergency services reported that four tank artillery shells struck a tent city in the Al-Mawasi humanitarian zone west of Rafah, hitting a group of tents and killing at least 21 people, at least 12 of whom were women, and injuring 64 people, including 10 in a critical condition.[1] [2] The strike occurred in an area designated as an expanded humanitarian zone by Israel in the wake of the Rafah offensive which has led to the mass displacement of Palestinian civilians to tent cities outside of the city.[3]

This attack came two days after a 26 May attack on a UNRWA refugee camp in the Tel al-Sultan neighborhood that killed 45–50 civilians,[4] and four days after a 24 May legally binding order by the International Court of Justice for Israel to immediately stop its Rafah offensive due to the risk to civilians.[5]

The Israel Defense Forces denied attacking the area on 28 May.[6] The New York Times published a video showing the aftermath of the attack on al-Mawasi.[7]

Background

After evacuation orders were issued by Israel during the Israel–Hamas war, many areas of Gaza became depopulated, with refugees primarily traveling to Rafah. Rafah became dense and overcrowded, with over 1.4 million civilians sheltering in the area.[8] However, when Israel invaded the city, it ordered the eastern neighborhoods evacuated as well. An estimated 950,000 civilians fled, going to other parts of southern Gaza designated as safe, including western Rafah.[9]

Four days before the attack, the International Court of Justice ordered Israel to halt the Rafah offensive,[10] but Israel interpreted the order differently and continued its operations.[11]

Despite global outrage and calls from government officials from around the world to halt its Rafah offensive, less than 48 hours after the Tel al-Sultan massacre, Israel shelled the Al-Mawasi refugee camp in a designated civilian evacuation zone, killing at least 21 people, more than half of them women and girls.[12]

Attack and aftermath

On 28 May, two days after the deadly Tel al-Sultan massacre, a cluster of tents were hit by shells in the designated humanitarian zone of Al-Mawasi. Gazan emergency services reported that the tents were hit from tank fire, while Wafa reported that tents were hit by Israeli airstrikes. 21 people were killed and 64 other were injured from the shelling, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.[13] [14] [15] [16]

Al Jazeera's reporter Hind Khoudary said: "Thirteen out of 21 people killed by Israel in the air strike on the so-called "safe area" of al-Mawasi were civilian women and girls".[17] [18]

Following the attack, several aid organisations in this part of the city were forced to close their operations and move them to other parts of the Gaza Strip, including the Al Quds field hospital run by the Palestine Red Crescent Society, a clinic supported by Doctors Without Borders and kitchens run by the World Central Kitchen.[19] [20] [21]

Palestinians reported another assault at Al-Mawasi on 13 June, by Israeli navy boats firing heavy machine guns.[22] [23]

Reactions

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: Al-Mughrabi . Nidal . 28 May 2024 . Israeli tanks hit evacuation zone west of Rafah . Reuters.
  2. Web site: At least 21 killed in Israeli attacks on tent camp near Gaza's Rafah . 2024-05-29 . Al Jazeera . en . 2024-05-28 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240528232829/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/5/28/at-least-21-killed-dozens-wounded-in-israeli-attacks-on-gazas-rafah . live .
  3. Web site: AAP . 2024-05-28 . Israeli tanks hit evacuation zone west of Rafah . 2024-05-28 . The Queenslander.
  4. Web site: Ebrahim . Nadeen . 2024-05-27 . Israeli strike that killed 45 at camp for displaced Palestinians in Rafah a 'tragic error,' Netanyahu says . 2024-05-28 . CNN . en . 2024-05-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240527234533/https://www.cnn.com/2024/05/27/middleeast/gaza-rafah-displaced-people-camp-israel-strike-mime-intl/index.html . live .
  5. Web site: Nashed . Mat . ICJ rules Israel must stop Rafah operation, what's next? . 2024-05-28 . Al Jazeera . en . 2024-05-28 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240528045133/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/5/24/explainer-icj-rules-israel-must-stop-rafah-operation-whats-next . live .
  6. Web site: 2024-05-28 . Israel did not strike humanitarian area, says IDF spokesperson . 2024-05-28 . The Jerusalem Post JPost.com . en . 2024-05-28 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240528164256/https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-804058 . live .
  7. News: Video: Strike Kills Displaced Gazans in Al-Mawasi, Officials Say . The New York Times . 28 May 2024 . Video says "Al-Mawasi, Gaza, May 28" starting at the 0:02 mark. . 29 May 2024 . 29 May 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240529040458/https://www.nytimes.com/video/world/middleeast/100000009491181/mawasi-strike-gaza-israel.html . live .
  8. Web site: ActionAid: Conditions in Rafah at breaking point, with over one million displaced people . Wafa agency.
  9. News: Fabian . Emanuel . 20 May 2024 . IDF estimates 950,000 Gazans have evacuated from Rafah amid offensive . 29 May 2024 . The Times of Israel . 27 May 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240527134609/https://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-estimates-950000-gazans-have-evacuated-from-rafah-amid-offensive/ . live .
  10. Web site: Haque . Adil Ahmad . 25 May 2024 . Halt: The International Court of Justice and the Rafah Offensive . 29 May 2024 . Just Security . en-US . Israel must refrain from any action in Rafah that risks killing a substantial part of the Palestinian group, either through bombardment or through displacement to areas where they will not long survive. The Court found that Israel's current military offensive is such an action...This military offensive must immediately halt. . 28 May 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240528124015/https://www.justsecurity.org/96123/icj-gaza-israeli-operations/ . live .
  11. News: 27 May 2024 . Isolated Israel argues ICJ ruling leaves door open to Rafah offensive . NBC News . en . "It was widely viewed as an unambiguous statement: The top United Nations court ordered Israel to immediately halt its military assault on Rafah" . 29 May 2024 . 29 May 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240529194718/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/israel-icj-order-halt-rafah-offensive-what-next-rcna154102 . live .
  12. Web site: International Outrage Over Israel's Rafah Tent Massacre Has Not Slowed IDF Offensive. HuffPost. 29 May 2024. 28 May 2024. 29 May 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240529002125/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/international-outrage-israel-rafah-tent-massacre-gaza_n_66565947e4b022987c320189. live.
  13. Web site: Israel denies strike on camp near Rafah that Gaza officials say killed 21 people. 29 May 2024. 29 May 2024. Reuters. en. 28 May 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240528090147/https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israeli-forces-press-rafah-offensive-despite-global-outcry-2024-05-28/. live.
  14. Web site: At least 21 killed in Israeli attacks on tent camp near Gaza's Rafah. 29 May 2024. 28 May 2024. Al Jazeera. en. 28 May 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240528232829/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/5/28/at-least-21-killed-dozens-wounded-in-israeli-attacks-on-gazas-rafah. live.
  15. Web site: IDF suspects Hamas artillery caused deadly fire in Rafah, investigation ongoing. 29 May 2024. 28 May 2024. i24 news. en. 29 May 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240529025023/https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/israel-at-war/artc-idf-suspects-hamas-artillery-caused-deadly-fire-in-rafah-investigation-ongoing. live.
  16. Web site: Israeli strike on humanitarian zone near Gaza's Rafah kills 'at least 21'. 29 May 2024. 28 May 2024. Middle East Eye. en. 28 May 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240528223818/https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/israel-strikes-designated-humanitarian-zone-near-gazas-rafah-kills-least-20. live.
  17. Web site: 28 May 2024 . Israel's war on Gaza updates: New massacre of displaced civilians in Rafah . Al Jazeera . 29 May 2024 . 29 May 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240529013932/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/5/28/israels-war-on-gaza-live-intense-israeli-artillery-shelling-across-rafah . live .
  18. Web site: 28 May 2024 . Gazan Officials Say a Strike Killed 21 in Al-Mawasi . . 29 May 2024 . 28 May 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240528230309/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/28/world/middleeast/gaza-al-mawasi-strike.html . live .
  19. Web site: 29 May 2024. Aid Groups in Rafah Say Israel's Advance Is Pushing Them Out. 30 May 2024. The New York Times. en. 30 May 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240530021655/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/29/world/middleeast/gaza-rafah-aid-hospitals.html. live.
  20. Web site: 30 May 2024 . Carnage in Tal Al-Sultan camp: States supporting Israel's military operations are complicit in the massacre of civilians in Rafah, Gaza . 30 May 2024 . . en . 30 May 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240530192114/https://www.doctorswithoutborders.ca/carnage-in-tal-al-sultan-camp-states-supporting-israels-military-operations-are-complicit-in-the-massacre-of-civilians-in-rafah-gaza/ . live .
  21. Web site: 30 May 2024 . Amid ongoing Israeli incursions into Gaza, aid facilities shut 'one after another' . 30 May 2024 . . en . 30 May 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240530115547/https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/05/1150411 . live .
  22. News: Lilieholm . Lucas . Israel denies hitting designated ‘safe zone’ following Palestinian news agency report . 13 June 2024 . CNN . 13 June 2024.
  23. News: Occupation forces launch ground, air attacks on Mawasi tent city of displaced persons in Rafah, casualties reported . 13 June 2024 . WAFA News Agency . 13 June 2024.
  24. Web site: 30 May 2024 . Amid ongoing Israeli incursions into Gaza, aid facilities shut 'one after another' . 30 May 2024 . . en . 30 May 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240530115547/https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/05/1150411 . live .
  25. Web site: 28 May 2024 . Gaza: New crossing points and 'floating dock' are cosmetic changes, as humanitarian access disintegrates in Gaza, warn aid agencies . 30 May 2024 . Reliefweb.int . en . 29 May 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240529205420/https://reliefweb.int/report/occupied-palestinian-territory/gaza-new-crossing-points-and-floating-dock-are-cosmetic-changes-humanitarian-access-disintegrates-gaza-warn-aid-agencies-enar . live .

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