The Palestinian Return Centre (PRC) in London is deeply shocked and outraged by the latest atrocity committed by the Israeli military in the Gaza Strip’s Rafah city, where dozens of displaced families have sought shelter after they were forced out of their homes due to Israel’s relentless bombardment.

In a brutal and inhumane act, Israeli forces targeted a tent camp in Rafah, designated as a safe zone for displaced civilians, resulting in the tragic loss of 50 innocent lives. Many of the victims, including women and children, were horrifically burned alive in this senseless massacre.

Witnesses told PRC that tents were melting and the people’s bodies were also melting after the attack.

This egregious violation of international humanitarian law comes after Israel explicitly marked the tent camp as a safe haven, further highlighting the callous disregard for human life and safety.

PRC unequivocally condemns this despicable act of violence and stands in solidarity with the victims and their families during this devastating time.

This tragic event is a continuation of targeting unarmed civilians and reflects a systematic policy aimed at expanding the scope of killing and destruction in Gaza, rendering it uninhabitable.

It also represents a blatant defiance of the decisions of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which has ordered Tel Aviv to ensure its forces do not commit acts of genocide and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza.

PRC calls upon the international community to urgently intervene and hold Israel accountable for this heinous crime. It is imperative that there is an immediate and impartial investigation into this massacre to ensure justice for the victims and to prevent such atrocities from recurring.

We also call for increased protection for all displaced civilians in Gaza and for the international community to support humanitarian efforts in the region. The ongoing blockade and repeated military assaults have created an unbearable humanitarian crisis, exacerbating the suffering of the Palestinian people.

The UN Security Council and concerned UN bodies should urgently intervene to end the Israeli military operations in the enclave, push for a ceasefire, and force Israel to comply with the provisions of international humanitarian law and the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 on the protection of civilians in times of war.