Israeli Airstrike Kills Dozens in Gaza Displacement Camp: UN Calls for Ceasefire

The United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres strongly condemned the Israeli airstrike on a displacement camp in Rafah, Gaza, which killed scores of innocent civilians seeking shelter. Guterres stated that “this horror must stop” and that “there is no safe place in Gaza”.
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, also voiced horror at the civilian deaths, stating that the strike “underscores once again that there is literally no safe place in Gaza.” Turk called for accountability and changes in Israel’s policies and practices, noting that the outcome was “entirely predictable” when striking a densely populated area.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu acknowledged the incident as a “tragic mistake” and said Israel is investigating the matter. The Israel Defense Forces claimed the airstrike targeted two senior Hamas officials, but resulted in the deaths of at least 45 civilians and injury to 200 others in the displacement camp.
The UN officials reiterated calls for a ceasefire, with Turk urging Israel to take immediate steps to protect civilians and ensure access to humanitarian aid, as well as calling on Hamas to unconditionally release all hostages