India expresses deep concern over civilian casualties in Rafah

New Delhi, May 30: New Delhi has expressed deep concern over the loss of civilian lives in the displacement camp in Rafah, Gaza, where Israeli troops continue their targeted operations. In a weekly press briefing, Randhir Jaiswal, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson said, “The heartbreaking loss of civilian lives in the displacement camp in Rafah is a matter of deep concern. We have consistently called for the protection of the civilian population and respect for international humanitarian law in the ongoing conflict. We also note that the Israeli side has already accepted responsibility for it as a tragic accident and announced an investigation into the incident.”

At least 45 people, including women and children, were killed in an Israeli air strike on a camp for displaced Palestinians in the southern Gaza city of Rafah on Sunday. Videos from the Tal al-Sultan area on Sunday night showed a large explosion and intense fires burning. The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) reported that they had killed two “senior terrorists” and were investigating the circumstances of the civilian deaths. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the incident as a “tragedy,” occurring hours after rockets were fired from Rafah towards Tel Aviv, marking the first long-range attacks on the central Israeli city since January.

Addressing the Israeli parliament on Monday, Netanyahu called Sunday’s strike a “tragic mishap” but pledged to continue operations in Rafah. The attack has sparked protests from regional governments, including Egypt and Qatar, who have acted as mediators in the conflict, as well as Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey.

Egypt condemned the strike as part of a “systematic policy” to make Gaza “uninhabitable,” while Qatar called it a “dangerous violation of international law” that could “complicate ongoing mediation efforts.” Jordan accused Israel of “ongoing war crimes,” and Saudi Arabia denounced the “continued massacres.”

The UN reports that around a million people have now fled the fighting in Rafah, with several hundred thousand more potentially still sheltering there. Residents have reported heavy bombardment of western districts early this week, the IDF stated it was continuing operations against “terror targets.”

‘India recognised State of Palestine in 1980s’

When asked about India’s position on the recent recognition of Palestine by Ireland, Norway, and Spain, official spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated, “As you are aware, India was one of the first countries to recognise the state of Palestine in the late 1980s, and we have long supported the two-state solution which entails the establishment of a sovereign, viable, and independent state of Palestine within recognised and mutually agreed borders, living side by side with Israel in peace.”

Last week, Ireland, Norway, and Spain announced their recognition of the Palestinian state, with Spain announcing on May 28. Currently, over 143 United Nations member states recognize Palestinian statehood, though key countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom do not. In response to these recognitions, Israel’s foreign ministry condemned the decisions, warning that they could “fuel extremism and instability,” and has recalled its envoys to Norway, Spain, and Ireland.

Palestine has held non-member observer state status at the UN General Assembly since 2012. In November, Norway’s parliament, the Storting, passed a resolution urging the government to recognize Palestine as a state. Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide emphasized the importance of addressing the Gaza conflict through “an irreversible path towards a settlement,” noting that state recognition is a strategic tool, not an end goal. He clarified that Norway aims for a Palestinian state led by the Palestinian Authority.

In response, Israel criticized the recognition as a “distorted step.” The Israeli foreign ministry reiterated its stance, warning that such moves could “fuel extremism and instability,” and confirmed the recall of its envoys from Norway, Spain, and Ireland.