Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu acknowledged on Monday that a “tragic mistake” occurred following an Israeli strike in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, which ignited a tent camp housing displaced Palestinians and, according to local officials, killed at least 45 people.
This incident has amplified international criticism of Israel’s war with Hamas, even drawing condemnation from its closest allies over the civilian casualties.
Despite Israel's insistence on adhering to international law, it is under scrutiny by the world’s top courts, one of which recently demanded it halt the offensive in Rafah.
The Israeli military announced an investigation into the civilian deaths, which followed a strike on a Hamas installation that killed two senior militants. Sunday night’s attack, one of the deadliest in the conflict, raised the overall Palestinian death toll above 36,000, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not separate fighters from noncombatants in its count.
“Despite our utmost efforts not to harm innocent civilians, last night, there was a tragic mistake,” Netanyahu stated in an address to Israel’s parliament. “We are investigating the incident and will obtain a conclusion because this is our policy.”
ActionAid, an international humanitarian organization, expressed being “outraged and heartbroken” that the strike targeted a tent area near UNRWA warehouses storing “vital aid.”
The Gaza Health Ministry and the Palestinian Red Crescent rescue service confirmed at least 45 fatalities, including 12 women, eight children, and three older adults, with three bodies burned beyond recognition.
Netanyahu maintains that Israel must eliminate Hamas’ last remaining battalions in Rafah. The militant group had launched rockets from the city toward central Israel on Sunday, triggering air raid sirens but causing no injuries.
The Rafah strike has prompted a new wave of condemnation.
The U.S. National Security Council described the “devastating images” from the strike as “heartbreaking” and stated it was working with the Israeli military and others to determine what happened.
French President Emmanuel Macron called for an immediate ceasefire in a post on X, asserting, “There are no safe areas in Rafah for Palestinian civilians. I call for full respect for international law.”
Germany’s Foreign Office, a longtime supporter of Israel, deemed the images of charred bodies “unbearable” and stressed that the investigation must proceed swiftly, stressing that the civilian population must finally be better protected.
Qatar, a key mediator in ceasefire negotiations and the release of hostages held by Hamas, warned that the Rafah strike could “complicate” talks. Negotiations have repeatedly stalled over Hamas’ demands for a lasting truce and the withdrawal of Israeli forces, which Israeli leaders have publicly rejected.
