Outrage at a strike in Rafah is unlikely to change policy
America has already said the incident does not cross its red lines
Only one detail of the events of the night of May 26th is undisputed: dozens of people were killed in an Israeli air strike in Rafah. Palestinians say that several large bombs were used to target a camp of civilians, uprooted from other parts of war-torn Gaza. The Israel Defence Forces (idf) acknowledge there was a strike but claim they used two smaller missiles to target two senior Hamas men who were killed. The additional deaths, they insist, were caused by secondary explosions—a vehicle carrying explosives or a fuel truck—that they had not foreseen.
Explore more
This article appeared in the Middle East & Africa section of the print edition under the headline “Horrors in Rafah”
Middle East & Africa June 1st 2024
More from Middle East and Africa
Israeli retaliation in Lebanon seems inevitable
But it still wants to avoid all-out war against Hizbullah
Why the AI revolution is leaving Africa behind
Large infrastructure gaps are creating a new digital divide
Rwandan soldiers may outnumber M23 rebels in Congo
The prospect of dislodging the rebels is becoming dimmer
Bibi Netanyahu offered spectacle over substance in America
His fourth address to Congress was historic, but held few answers for Israelis
Israel and the Houthis trade bombs and bluster
For now, though, neither side is a strategic threat to the other
The world court says Israel’s occupation is illegal
But will the International Court of Justice’s ruling have any effect?