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An Israeli strike in the southern Gaza city of Rafah set fire to a tent camp housing displaced Palestinians and killed at least 45 people, only adding to the surging international criticism Israel has faced over its war with Hamas.

STORY: :: Rafah, Gaza Displaced Palestinians in Rafah made their way through mangled tents and scattered belongings on Tuesday... after an early morning Israeli airstrike killed Palestinians sheltering there, according to Gaza health officials. "We want to go but we don't know where to go,” says Manal Tanboura. “They told us this was a safe place." Israel's military denied striking a tent camp west of Rafah on Tuesday, after Gaza health authorities said Israeli tank shelling had killed more than 20 people there. Witnesses told Reuters tanks had advanced to the heart of Rafah for the first time during Israel's three-week-old assault on the southern city. :: May 26, 2024 The latest bombardment comes days after an Israeli attack set off a fire at a Rafah tent camp... :: May 27, 2024 ...that killed at least 45 people. The incident sparked global condemnation and calls for the implementation of a World Court order for Israel to stop its assault. Israel said it had targeted Hamas commanders and had not intended to cause civilian casualties. :: Israeli Army REAR ADMIRAL DANIEL HAGARI: "This is a devastating incident..." An Israeli army spokesperson said the military was investigating the possibility that munitions stored near a compound targeted in Sunday's airstrike may have ignited the blaze. "Our munition alone could not have ignited a fire of this size." :: Dublin, Ireland Meanwhile, in a diplomatic move purportedly aimed at speeding up efforts towards a ceasefire... IRISH TAOISEACH SIMON HARRIS: "Ireland formally recognizes the state of Palestine..." Spain, Ireland and Norway officially recognized a Palestinian state. :: Madrid, Spain Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said the country is recognizing a unified Palestinian state, including the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, under the Palestinian National Authority with East Jerusalem as its capital. "The recognition of Palestine is not against anyone, least of all Israel…” // “Our decision reflects our absolute rejection of Hamas…” Israel says it wants to root out Hamas fighters holed up in Rafah and rescue hostages it says are being held in there. According to the U.N.'s Palestinian refugee agency, UNRWA, around a million people have fled the Israeli offensive in Rafah since early May, many of them repeatedly displaced by shifting waves of the war. :: Ashkelon, Israel :: October 7, 2023 Israel's assault on Gaza began after the Oct. 7 Hamas-led attacks that killed around 1,200 people and saw more than 250 hostages seized, according Israeli tallies. :: Deir al-Balah, Gaza :: May 24, 2024 More than 36,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel's offensive, according to Palestinian health officials.

Israel’s offensive in Rafah has sent nearly a million Palestinians fleeing the southern Gaza city and scattering across a wide area. Most have already been displaced multiple times during Israel’s nearly 8-month-old war in Gaza, which is aimed at destroying Hamas but has devastated the territory and caused what the U.N says is a near-famine. The situation has been worsened by a dramatic plunge in the amount of food, fuel and other supplies reaching the U.N. and other aid groups to distribute to the population. Palestinians have largely been on their own to resettle their families and find the bare essentials. (AP Video/Mohammad Jahjouh, Production/Wafaa Shurafa)

STORY: :: Madrid, Spain :: May 28, 2024 :: Pedro Sanchez, Spanish Prime Minister :: “The state of Palestine must be viable with the West Bank and Gaza connected by a corridor and with East Jerusalem as its capital and must be unified under the legitimate government of the Palestine National Authority (PNA)” :: “Although it is not up to Spain to define the borders of other countries, our position is aligned with the U.N. Security Council resolutions 242 and 338 and with the position of the European Union. Therefore we will not recognize change in the 1967 lines other than those agreed to by the parties." :: "The recognition of Palestine is not against anyone, least of all Israel, a friendly nation that Spain values and holds in high regard and with whom we aim to foster the strongest possible relationship. Furthermore, our decision reflects our absolute rejection of Hamas, a terrorist organization who is against a two-state solution." The Spanish government will formally approve the recognition later on Tuesday. The development came as Norway said it would maker a similar announcement. European Union members Ireland, Slovenia and Malta have indicated in recent weeks that they plan to make the recognition, arguing a two-state solution is essential for lasting peace in the region.

STORY: :: Rafah, Gaza Palestinians sifted through smoking wreckage in Rafah on Monday, as others mourned the dead... :: May 26, 2024 ...hours after an Israeli airstrike triggered a massive blaze in a tent camp where displaced people were taking shelter. Dozens were killed, according to Palestinian officials in Hamas-run Gaza, who said the toll was likely to rise. :: Jerusalem Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told parliament the strike was not intended to kill civilians: "In Rafah we already evacuated about one million non-combatant residents and despite our utmost effort not to harm non-combatants, something unfortunately went tragically wrong. We are investigating the incident and will reach conclusions because this is our policy.” The attack has prompted an outcry from global leaders, who are now calling for implementation of a Friday ruling from the U.N.’s top court, ordering Israel to stop its assault on Rafah. Israel had kept up its offensive, saying the court ruling grants it some scope for military action there. :: Beirut, Lebanon “I saw images, they are deeply disturbing and horrifying.” The head of the U.N. Palestinian refugee agency, or UNRWA - Phillippe Lazzarini - said he was waiting to hear more about casualties from his team. “There is no safe space in Gaza." :: May 26, 2024 The U.S. called images following the strike "devastating" and urged Israel to take every precaution to protect civilians. On social media, French President Emmanuel Macron said he was "outraged." :: Brussels, Belgium The German foreign minister and EU foreign policy chief called for the court’s ruling to be respected. EU FOREIGN POLICY CHIEF JOSEP BORRELL: "I condemn this in the strongest terms." More than 36,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel's offensive, Gaza's health ministry says. :: October 7, 2023 Israel launched the operation after Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israeli communities on Oct. 7… Killing around 1,200 people and seizing more than 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies. Israel says it wants to root out Hamas fighters holed up in Rafah and rescue hostages it says are being held in the area. Israel's military said Sunday's strike, based on, quote, "precise intelligence", had eliminated Hamas' chief of staff for the West Bank, plus another official behind deadly attacks on Israelis.

STORY: :: Israeli police and Jewish pilgrims appear to clash at a religious festival site :: Authorities had closed the site this year due to rocket fire from Lebanon :: Police said they turned away thousands of pilgrims, though hundreds had managed to reach the area :: Meron, Israel :: Israeli Police Handout :: Released on May 26, 2024 :: Admma Videos circulating on social media from Israeli Police and ADMMA appeared to show clashes between Israeli officers and worshippers on site. Reuters was able to locate videos from the shape of the mountain and building on the background match Google Earth topography imagery and nearby buildings, greenery, floor surface and fence panels match the satellite imagery corroborating video shows the same scene. Reuters was not able to confirm when the videos were filmed. Since the 2021 tragedy at the tomb of a 2nd-century sage during the annual Lag B'Omer celebration, police have limited the number of attendees. The all-night sessions of prayer, mystical songs and dance had in previous years drawn crowds in the tens of thousands. This year's festival was canceled since the site at Meron in the Galilee region has been targeted by rocket fire from Lebanon. Many northern Israeli towns have been evacuated since Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon began firing at them following Hamas' Oct. 7 assault on southern Israel, which sparked the war in Gaza. Both sides have traded blows since. Despite the closure, police said they turned away thousands of pilgrims over the weekend, though hundreds managed to reach the site, where things got out of hand. The visitors damaged property and hurled objects at officers, police said. Nineteen officers were injured. Israeli media reported that several people among the unauthorized crowd were hurt. At least one officer was suspended for pushing an older man to the ground, and police said it was examining other incidents from the site.

STORY: :: Warning Graphic Content Israeli air strikes killed at least 35 Palestinians and wounded dozens in part of the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah designated for the displaced. That’s according to Palestinian health and civil emergency service officials on Sunday. Video taken that day showed people searching through rubble and carrying bodies into emergency vehicles. "We were sitting at the door of the house safely. Suddenly we heard the sound of a missile. We ran and found the street covered in smoke. We did not see anything. We went into the house and did not find anyone until we checked over the wall and found a girl and a young man who had been cut to pieces." 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." It said it took out Hamas' chief of staff for the West Bank and another senior official behind deadly attacks on Israelis. The strike hit the Tel Al-Sultan neighborhood in western Rafah, setting parts of the area ablaze. Thousands of people were taking shelter there after fleeing the eastern areas of the city where Israeli forces began a ground offensive over two weeks ago. Gaza’s health ministry said 35 people were killed and dozens others, most of them women and children, were wounded in the attack. Video obtained by Reuters showed several children receiving medical treatment after the strike. The International Committee of the Red Cross said its field hospital in Rafah was receiving an influx of casualties, and that other hospitals also were taking in a large number of patients. Earlier on Sunday, the Israeli military said eight projectiles were identified crossing from Rafah, prompting sirens to sound in the Israeli city of Tel Aviv for the first time in months. Video obtained by Reuters showed the remains of a rocket outside a school. Another rocket struck the roof of this home in Herzliya, north of Tel Aviv. The military added some of the projectiles were intercepted, and reported no casualties. :: May 26, 2024 Israel has kept up operations in Rafah despite a ruling by the top U.N. court on Friday ordering it to stop attacking the city. But Israel argues that the U.N. court's ruling allows room for some military action there, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened his war cabinet later on Sunday to discuss continued operations in Rafah. Israeli tanks have probed around the edges of the city, but have not yet entered Rafah in force.

The Israeli military targeted Al Mawasi refugee camp, where many in Gaza had fled seeking safety from the assault on Rafah. The injured will seek medical attention at hospitals, which have also been targeted by Israel, claiming the medical facilities are used as command centers by Hamas. Imtiaz Tyab has the latest.

STORY: :: Graphic Warning Air raid sirens blared in Tel Aviv on Sunday (May 26), sending residents running for cover for the first time in months. The Hamas militant group said it had launched a missile attack on Israel's largest city. :: Herzliya, Israel Video obtained by Reuters shows the remains of a rocket outside a school. Another rocket struck the roof of this home in Herzliya, north of Tel Aviv. The Israeli military said eight projectiles were identified crossing from the area of Rafah, the southern tip of the Gaza Strip. It said a number of the projectiles were intercepted. Israeli emergency services said they had received no reports of casualties. But the volley demonstrated the armed Palestinian group's resilience despite Israel's Gaza offensive. Source: Israeli Military Israel invaded Gaza after Hamas-led militants attacked Israeli communities on Oct. 7, killing around 1,200 people and seizing more than 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies. Israel's retaliatory operation is now in its seventh month, and Palestinian health officials say Israel's campaign has killed more than 35,000 people. :: Gaza City, Gaza Swaths of the densely-populated Gaza Strip have been reduced to rubble. :: May 25, 2024 Relief organizations have warned Gaza's population is catastrophically short of food and medicine, and blamed Israel for limiting aid into the enclave. :: Source: Israeli Military To relieve some of the pain, the U.S. military built a pier to receive aid by sea. Video released by the Israeli military on Sunday purports to show trucks loaded with supplies at the new pier. :: Source: Israeli Military Focus in both the fighting and cease-fire talks continues to center on the city of Rafah, where Israeli forces say they are committed to rooting out remaining Hamas fighters. :: May 24, 2024 The International Court of Justice last week ordered Israel to halt its military operation in Rafah, citing the threat to civilians seeking refuge there.

Hamas fired a barrage of rockets from Gaza that set off air raid sirens as far away as Tel Aviv for the first time in months on Sunday in a show of resilience more than seven months into Israel's massive air, sea and ground offensive. (AP video shot by Paz bar)

STORY: Italy became the latest country on Saturday (May 25) to resume funding for the United Nations' Palestinian relief organization UNRWA. It made the announcement on a visit to Rome by Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni told Mustafa that Italy supported efforts towards a sustainable ceasefire in Gaza, the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas and improved humanitarian aid for the people of Gaza, her office said in a statement. Italy was one of a number of countries to block aid for UNRWA following accusations by Israel that some of the agency's staff were involved in the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel that triggered the Gaza war. The step came a day after judges at the U.N.'s World Court ordered Israel to immediately halt its military assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah, in a landmark emergency ruling in South Africa's case accusing Israel of genocide. Foreign minister Antonio Tajani announced a 35 million euro, or $38 million, aid package for the Palestinians, of which five million euros would go to UNRWA projects. UNRWA employs 13,000 people in Gaza, running the enclave's schools, its primary healthcare clinics and other social services, and distributing humanitarian aid. It has set out an action plan to better ensure its impartiality, strengthen internal reviews, and improve how its staff are monitored. In recent weeks, several countries have resumed funding the agency, including Austria and Germany.

The International Court of Justice, the top United Nations court, has ordered Israel to halt its military operations in Rafah, and is repeating its demands that Hamas release all the hostages. Imtiaz Tyab reports on Israel's response from East Jerusalem.

STORY: :: Enforcement of a World Court ruling ordering Israel to halt its assault on Rafah could be hard to enforce, analysts say :: May 24, 2024 :: Heidi Matthews, Assistant law professor, York University “The court itself doesn't have any enforcement powers, so it's the highest judicial body of the United Nations, but it doesn't have, you know, its own police or military force that would perform that kind of enforcement. What it does have pursuant to the U.N. charter is resort to the security Council." // "And so that's the option. Clearly, the big problem with that is the U.S. veto on the Security Council." :: Kenneth Roth, Former executive director of Human Rights Watch “South Africa used genocide because that was its jurisdiction hook, that's how it could get before the International Court of Justice. And indeed, there is a very credible case of genocide. But the court will not resolve that case on the merits for some time to come. Today's ruling was just a preliminary ruling, which it has a very low threshold of proof. But we should not let the genocide debate deter us from focusing on the other serious war crimes and crimes against humanity that quite clearly are going on." Reading out the ruling, World Court president Nawaf Salam said the situation in the Palestinian enclave had deteriorated since the court last ordered Israel to take steps to improve it, and conditions had been met for a new emergency order. Israel launched its air and ground war on Gaza after Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israeli communities, killing around 1,200 people and seizing more than 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies. More than 35,000 Palestinians have since been killed in the offensive, Gaza's health ministry says. Under the U.N. charter the U.N. Security Council could compel enforcement of the ICJ ruling, Matthews said, but it would likely face opposition from the United States which frequently uses its veto power to support Israel.

The International Court of Justice has ordered Israel to halt its offensive in Gaza's southern city of Rafah. Israel has not heeded the ruling and defended its military response to the Oct. 7 terror attack by Hamas. CBS News foreign correspondent Imtiaz Tyab has more.