Israel accused of bombing refugee camp in Rafah, killing children

Hundreds of thousands of children trapped in densely populated area

UNICEF: Images show burned bodies, child without head

NEW YORK, May 6, 2024 - UNICEF is condemning a reported Israeli airstrike on a refugee camp in Rafah, Gaza, that witnesses say killed children and left hundreds of thousands of children trapped in the densely populated area.

The humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip continues to deteriorate, with reports of civilian casualties mounting. UNICEF says that Rafah, with a population density of 20,000 people per square kilometer, is almost twice as densely populated as New York City.

According to UNICEF, 600,000 children in Rafah are without a safe way to evacuate. The organization says it has received images of burned bodies and families fleeing from bombed-out tents in Rafah.

The images, which have not been independently verified, show burned corpses and a child without a head. UNICEF says the images are "horrific" and "unacceptable."

Israel has not commented on the allegations. However, the country has previously denied targeting civilians in its airstrikes on Gaza.