Israel has denied targeting civilians in its latest military operation in Rafah, where Palestinian health and civil emergency service officials said air strikes killed at least 35 Palestinians and wounded dozens in an area of Rafah designated for the displaced.
The Israeli military said its air force struck a Hamas compound in Rafah and that the strike was carried out with “precise ammunition and on the basis of precise intelligence, carefully taking out Hamas’ chief of staff for the West Bank and another senior official behind deadly attacks on Israelis.
Israel says it wants to root out Hamas fighters holed up in Rafah and rescue hostages it says are being held in the area, but its assault has worsened the plight of civilians and caused an international outcry.
Italy said on Monday Israeli attacks on Palestinian civilians in Gaza were no longer justifiable in one of the strongest criticisms Rome has made so far against Israel’s campaign.
Defence Minister Guido Crosetto speaking during an interview said there is an increasingly difficult situation, in which the Palestinian people are being squeezed without regard for the rights of innocent men, women and children who have nothing to do with Hamas and this can no longer be justified.
Crosetto said Italy agreed in principle with the Israeli response to the October 7 assault by Hamas militants on southern Israeli communities, but he added that a difference had to be made between the Islamist group and the Palestinian people.
