Asem Mustafa Awan  Islamabad: The devastation continues in Gaza as Israel bombarded Rafah on Tuesday, despite a global outcry over a strike that set ablaze a crowded tent city, killing 45 people, according to Palestinian authorities. The strike, which Gaza medics reported also injured hundreds of civilians with shrapnel and burn wounds, has drawn condemnation from world leaders.  The UN Security Council is set to discuss the incident at an emergency meeting at 1915 GMT. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed his horror at the scene of charred bodies and injured children being rushed to hospitals, declaring, “There is no safe place in Gaza. This horror must stop.” After the October 7 bombing, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu referred to the strike as a “tragic accident” but vowed to carry on the military campaign against Hamas in order to ensure the release of all hostages. Despite the international condemnation, airstrikes and shelling continued overnight in Gaza, including in Rafah’s Tal Al-Sultan area where the displacement camp was set ablaze near a facility of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA). This escalation marks more than seven months into the bloodiest conflict Gaza has ever witnessed, during which Israel has faced increasing international opposition and legal challenges in international courts based in the Netherlands. In a significant political development, Spain recognized Palestine as a state on Tuesday, with Ireland and Norway expected to follow suit. This step has already been taken by over 140 UN member states, though it remains opposed by several Western governments. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, speaking on national television, emphasized that not only is the state of Palestine’s recognition a matter of historical justice, but it is also a necessary condition for bringing about world peace. The writer is a journalist based in Islamabad and writes on a wide range of issues. Photo Credit: AFP-Fileimage Post Views: 80