Arab League Warns against Israeli Invasion of Rafah, Calls for Ceasefire in Gaza

Banners celebrating the advent of Ramadan are seen at a shelter in Rafah. (AP)
Banners celebrating the advent of Ramadan are seen at a shelter in Rafah. (AP)
TT

Arab League Warns against Israeli Invasion of Rafah, Calls for Ceasefire in Gaza

Banners celebrating the advent of Ramadan are seen at a shelter in Rafah. (AP)
Banners celebrating the advent of Ramadan are seen at a shelter in Rafah. (AP)

The Arab League Council warned on Wednesday of the catastrophic consequences of “Israeli aggressive threats to invade and destroy the Palestinian city of Rafah, which is housing more than 1.5 million displaced citizens.”

During an extraordinary meeting in Cairo to discuss the war on Gaza, the council condemned the flow of weapons to Israel and Israel’s “continued genocide against the Palestinians.”

In a statement, the council denounced Israel’s refusal to comply with United Nations Security Council resolution 2728, which demands an immediate ceasefire during the month of Ramadan, and an end to the Israeli crimes in the West Bank aimed at the systematic destruction of refugee camps.

The council emphasized “the necessity of implementing the decision of the Joint Arab Islamic Summit in Riyadh to break the Israeli siege on the Gaza Strip, to allow the immediate access of Arab, Islamic, and international humanitarian aid convoys by land, sea, and air into the entire Strip, and to call on relevant international organizations to participate in breaking the siege.”

It expressed support for the Qatari-Egyptian effort to reach a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, praising Algeria’s efforts at the Security Council and other international moves aimed at resolving the conflict in the region, as well as the growing demands by the European Union countries to recognize the State of Palestine.

Arab League Secretary General Ahmed Aboul Gheit underlined “the need to continue diplomatic work in order to stop the war in Gaza and ensure that Israel is held accountable for its crimes.”

He also called for maintaining “the struggle in all diplomatic arenas and global forums in the hopes of establishing an independent Palestine.”

Permanent Representative of Palestine to the League of Arab States Mohannad Al-Aklouk underlined his country’s support for Arab and international efforts aimed at resolving the conflict in the region according to international resolutions, and for the State of Palestine to obtain full membership in the United Nations.

He urged Arab countries, parliaments, civil society organizations, trade unions and federations concerned with human rights and international law to take urgent action before international judiciary to prosecute Israeli officials for their brutal crimes against Palestinian civilians, children and women.



Gaza Rescuers Say Israeli Strikes Kill 24 Palestinians

A boy walks past a destroyed building in the aftermath of an Israeli strike at Deir el-Balah in the central Gaza Strip, on January 15, 2025, amid the ongoing war between Israel and the militant group Hamas. (Photo by Eyad BABA / AFP)
A boy walks past a destroyed building in the aftermath of an Israeli strike at Deir el-Balah in the central Gaza Strip, on January 15, 2025, amid the ongoing war between Israel and the militant group Hamas. (Photo by Eyad BABA / AFP)
TT

Gaza Rescuers Say Israeli Strikes Kill 24 Palestinians

A boy walks past a destroyed building in the aftermath of an Israeli strike at Deir el-Balah in the central Gaza Strip, on January 15, 2025, amid the ongoing war between Israel and the militant group Hamas. (Photo by Eyad BABA / AFP)
A boy walks past a destroyed building in the aftermath of an Israeli strike at Deir el-Balah in the central Gaza Strip, on January 15, 2025, amid the ongoing war between Israel and the militant group Hamas. (Photo by Eyad BABA / AFP)

Gaza's civil defense agency said on Wednesday that Israeli strikes killed at least 24 people across the Palestinian territory, with Israel's military saying it had targeted Hamas militants overnight.

The latest violence, following more than 15 months of war between Israel and Palestinian group Hamas, comes as truce mediator Qatar said negotiations for a ceasefire and hostage release deal were in their "final stages”

The civil defense agency said in a statement that 11 bodies were brought to the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in the central Gaza Strip, after Israel struck a family home in Deir el-Balah city during the night.

A seven-year-old boy and three teenagers were among the dead, the agency said.

A separate strike targeted a school building used as shelter for war-displaced Palestinians in Gaza City, killing seven people and injuring several others, the civil defense agency said.

A third strike at dawn hit a house in the Al-Nuseirat refugee camp, killing six people and injuring seven, the agency added.

The Israeli military confirmed that its forces had carried out multiple strikes overnight in Gaza, saying in a statement that they were "precise" and targeted "terrorist operatives.”

Over the past 24 hours, the military said it had struck more than 50 targets across the Gaza Strip.

Israel's military offensive in the Gaza Strip has killed at least 46,707 Palestinians and wounded 110,265 since Oct. 7, 2023, the Palestinian enclave's health ministry said on Wednesday.