The United Nations Security Council is set to convene an emergency meeting on Tuesday following an Israeli airstrike that killed at least 45 displaced Palestinians in Rafah, sparking a global outcry and renewed demands for accountability.

The deadly attack, which targeted a displacement center housing civilians, was launched Sunday night as Israeli forces attempted to assassinate two senior Hamas members. The strike triggered a massive fire that engulfed the camp, causing horrific casualties. Local sources reported additional Israeli strikes overnight Tuesday in Rafah, compounding fears of further civilian massacres.

Health officials in Gaza described the attack as one of the bloodiest incidents since the beginning of Israel’s assault on the besieged enclave. Scenes of charred bodies and devastated shelters circulated widely, fueling anger across the region.

Palestinians and several Arab nations immediately condemned the attack as a "massacre," while Israel, facing mounting pressure, claimed it was investigating the "tragic accident."

UN Secretary-General António Guterres denounced the atrocity in strong terms. "There is no safe place in Gaza. This horror must stop," he wrote on social media.

Martin Griffiths, the UN’s top humanitarian official, also issued a scathing statement. Referring to warnings previously raised about the dangers of Israel’s Rafah offensive, Griffiths said, "We’ve seen the consequences in last night’s utterly unacceptable attack." He criticized Israel’s framing of the event as a mistake, adding, "To call it ‘a mistake’ is a message that means nothing for those killed, those grieving, and those trying to save lives."

Diplomatic sources confirmed that Algeria, currently a member of the Security Council, called for the emergency session to discuss Israel’s actions in Rafah and broader concerns over the mounting civilian death toll in Gaza.

In a significant political development, the attack coincides with the scheduled formal recognition of a Palestinian state by three European countries — Spain, Ireland, and Norway — a move expected to add further international pressure on Israel.

As the humanitarian disaster deepens in Gaza, the world’s attention now turns to the UN Security Council, where calls for an immediate ceasefire and accountability grow louder with each passing day. (ILKHA)