With recent Rafah attack, Israel has lost its last chance at redemption

The recent Rafah attack by Israel on May 26, which has reignited international outrage and calls for a ceasefire by celebrities, leaders and common masses, raises a pressing question: When is the violence going to stop?

Israel, has yet again proved its ruthlessness, as the world watches its barbarism unfolding like silent spectators. Earlier this week, Israel targeted an encampment of makeshift shelters in Tal as-Sultan at night, dropping 900 kgs of bombs and missiles on displaced people. 

The attack came just days after the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordered Israel to stop its assault, in application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. However, the court had no means of enforcing its ruling. 

Palestinians said that "throughout the night, the bombing didn't stop, with air and artillery fire and vehicles advancing to the west" of the city deemed a “safe zone” in Rafah, per reports. The fire ravaged the tents, burning people alive.

#AllEyesOnRafah began trending on social media in the wake of the massacre with many international and Bollywood celebrities sharing messages of support.

Earlier, Gazans in the north were told by the Israeli army to evacuate to the south before the military invasion. Rafah was the last place of refuge for Palestinians fleeing the Israeli carnage.

But Israel continued its operations following the offensive in central Gaza and the southern city of Khan Yunis. The Rafah attack left at least 45 people dead, including 23 women, with mutilated bodies of children strewn around, show videos that emerged after the attack.

Two days after, Israel bombed a camp for displaced people in Al-Mawasi, west of Rafah, killing at least 21 Palestinians and leaving 64 wounded, a report by Doctors Without Borders said.

The Israeli army has been brutally killing civilians in the name of attacking Hamas hideouts. This time was no different as it blurted out the blatant lie again.

Thousands of civilians were taking shelter at this camp and were preparing to sleep when the attack happened. The Israeli government did not even care to issue the so-called “evacuation orders” before the assault.

Initially, the Israeli army claimed it had targeted a Hamas compound in Rafah, but later admitted it was a ‘tragic mistake’. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed regret and promised an investigation.

But questions remain. How long will Israel continue massacring innocent people in the name of retaliation? Haven’t enough people died? Haven’t enough children become orphans? Haven’t enough parents rendered childless? Haven’t enough families been destroyed? Has everyone shut their eyes to the brutal assault by the bully?

The Israeli military has been systematically and deliberately targeting health system hospitals, ambulances, medical personnel and patients. Israel even refuses to take in patients, particularly children, who cannot be treated in Gaza. Medical evacuation to Egypt has also been closed since Israel took control of the border.

The US has been backing Israel and even supplying ammunition for killing innocent civilians. The bombs used by Israel to target the tent camp in Rafah were apparently made in the US. The serial numbers on the weapon’s remains matched the manufacturer of GBU-39 parts based in California.

The US is complicit in this genocide and so are the United Kingdom and European states allied with Israel. 

Approximately 900,000 people have fled Rafah since the start of an Israeli ground operation there three weeks ago, but hundreds of thousands are still believed to be sheltering there.

This violence is being meted out to innocents in the 21st century, at a time when the world is talking about Artificial Intelligence, electric vehicles and space travel. Then why does this medieval-century barbarism continue without any accountability? 

Is there no one to ask questions from Israel, no one to rebuke it, no one to stop its perpetrations? What is the UN doing? What are the world’s powerful countries doing? How can it not be considered a collective failure of humanity? 

Till now, Israel's brutal assault has killed at least 36,439 Palestinians and wounded 82,627.  Almost 220 humanitarian workers have also fallen victim to the indiscriminate killing since the beginning of this assault. This might seem just a statistical figure to many, but these lives mattered. 

These lives were taken by a cruel ruler who has no plausible reason for his crimes. Even Ashoka adopted the path to salvation after martyring thousands.

It seems Israel can never go down that road. It has just become a monster that needs to be put an end to. It has lost all hope and chances to be redeemed.