The EU’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, has “strongly” condemned the Israeli assault on the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza.
“Reports from Gaza of another massacre of civilians are appalling. We condemn this in the strongest terms. The bloodbath must end immediately,” Borrell stated on X.
Borrell emphasized a three-stage plan, endorsed by US President Joe Biden, as the path to a lasting ceasefire and an end to the violence.
The Hamas-run Government Media Office reported that at least 210 Palestinians were killed and over 400 injured on Saturday during intense Israeli airstrikes targeting the Nuseirat refugee camp, areas east of Deir al-Balah, and the al-Bureij and al-Maghazi camps in central Gaza.
These strikes coincided with a sudden incursion of vehicles east and northwest of Nuseirat.
Israel, meanwhile, announced it had rescued four hostages held in Gaza during a raid on the Nuseirat camp.
Despite a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire, Israel has continued its offensive on Gaza since October 7.
According to local health authorities, more than 36,800 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have been killed, and over 83,500 injured.
Eight months into the conflict, Gaza remains in ruins under a severe blockade restricting access to food, clean water, and medicine.
Israel faces accusations of genocide at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which recently ordered Tel Aviv to halt its operations in Rafah, where over a million Palestinians had sought refuge before the area was invaded on May 6.
Spain became the first European nation to seek permission from a UN court to join South Africa’s case against Israel, accusing it of genocide in Gaza.
South Africa initiated the case with the International Court of Justice late last year, alleging that Israel violated the genocide convention through its military actions, which have devastated large areas of Gaza.
