French Foreign Ministry Says Worker Killed by Israeli Attack in Rafah

Palestinians search for casualties at the site of Israeli strikes on houses in Jabalia refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip, October 31, 2023. (Reuters)
Palestinians search for casualties at the site of Israeli strikes on houses in Jabalia refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip, October 31, 2023. (Reuters)
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French Foreign Ministry Says Worker Killed by Israeli Attack in Rafah

Palestinians search for casualties at the site of Israeli strikes on houses in Jabalia refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip, October 31, 2023. (Reuters)
Palestinians search for casualties at the site of Israeli strikes on houses in Jabalia refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip, October 31, 2023. (Reuters)

The French foreign ministry said one of its workers had died as a result of wounds sustained during an Israeli attack in Rafah, in the south of the Gaza Strip.

The man was seeking refuge in the house of a colleague from the French consulate alongside two other co-workers and a number of their family members, the ministry statement issued late on Saturday said.

"The house was hit by an Israeli air strike on Wednesday evening, which seriously hurt our agent and killed about 10 others," it said, adding he had later died of his wounds, Reuters reported.

The statement said France condemned the bombing of a residential building.

"We demand that the Israeli authorities shed full light on the circumstances of this bombing, as soon as possible," it said.

The Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A spokesperson for the French foreign ministry declined to provide further details on the name, nationality and age of the worker.

"We're waiting for clarification (from Israel)," said French Foreign Affairs Minister Catherine Colonna shortly after meeting her Israeli counterpart Eli Cohen in Tel Aviv on Sunday.

She called for an "immediate truce" between Hamas and Israel to allow for a humanitarian ceasefire.

Israel says it seeks to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, according to international law, though critics and even its closest ally, the US, say it needs to do more.



7 Killed in Suicide Bombing at Cafe in Somalia

An ambulance is seen in Mogadishu, Somalia August 3, 2024. REUTERS/Feisal Omar
An ambulance is seen in Mogadishu, Somalia August 3, 2024. REUTERS/Feisal Omar
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7 Killed in Suicide Bombing at Cafe in Somalia

An ambulance is seen in Mogadishu, Somalia August 3, 2024. REUTERS/Feisal Omar
An ambulance is seen in Mogadishu, Somalia August 3, 2024. REUTERS/Feisal Omar

Seven people died and six others were injured after a suicide bomber detonated an unidentified device at a café outside a police training school in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, police said Thursday.
Police say the victims included officers and civilians who were having tea outside the General Kaahiye Police Academy on Thursday, The Associated Press reported.
The al-Qaeda linked militant group, al-Shabab, claimed responsibility for the attack through a statement published on its affiliate website. The group has in the past carried out attacks in Somalia.
Resident Mohamed Ali said he heard a loud blast.
“The café was full of people enjoying their tea, and then everything was chaos,” he said.
A paramedic at Madina Hospital told The Associated Press that several injured people were receiving treatment.
“We are working to rehabilitate the wounded, many of whom sustained severe injuries,” she said.
Thursday's attack came two months after 37 people were killed in an attack on a public beach in Mogadishu.
Somalia has been taking over security responsibilities from foreign troops who had been deployed under the African Transition Mission in Somalia, whose mandate ends in December 2024.