EU condemns Israeli airstrike on Gaza safe zone, demands accountability

The European Union’s top diplomat has sharply condemned an Israeli airstrike that struck a designated “humanitarian safe zone” in southern Gaza on Tuesday, calling for respect for international law and the protection of civilians.

Josep Borrell, the EU’s foreign policy chief, expressed his concerns on X, saying, “War laws must be respected, civilians protected, and accountability ensured.” He emphasized, “We cannot normalize the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.”

The airstrike in Khan Younis, located in the al-Mawasi area, hit a tent camp that had been marked as a safe zone for civilians. Local authorities confirmed that the attack left at least 40 people dead and many more injured. Gaza’s civil defense reported that the strikes set refugee tents on fire and caused massive craters, some up to nine meters (30 feet) deep.

Israel’s military actions in Gaza have persisted since the October 7 Hamas attack, despite a United Nations Security Council resolution urging an immediate ceasefire. Over 41,000 people, including a significant number of women and children, have been killed, while nearly 95,000 have been injured, according to local health officials.

The situation in Gaza has been further worsened by an ongoing blockade, which has led to critical shortages of food, clean water, and medicine. The humanitarian conditions continue to deteriorate as much of the region remains in ruins.

As the conflict drags on, Israel is facing allegations of genocide, with the International Court of Justice receiving calls for an investigation into its actions in Gaza.