The Israeli military has concluded an initial investigation into a strike that resulted in a deadly fire in a tent camp in the southern Gaza city of Rafah over the weekend. According to the findings, the blaze was triggered by a secondary explosion.
An anonymous military official revealed on Tuesday that two 17-kilogram (37-pound) munitions were fired, targeting two senior Hamas militants. The official noted that these munitions were too small to cause a fire independently, suggesting the possibility that weapons were stored in the vicinity, which might have contributed to the secondary explosion.
The strike, which occurred on Sunday, led to the deaths of at least 45 people, about half of whom were women and children, according to Palestinian health officials. The fire is believed to have ignited fuel, cooking gas canisters, or other materials within the densely populated camp, which houses many displaced individuals.
The incident has sparked widespread outrage, including from some of Israel’s closest allies. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described it as a “tragic mishap.”
Further strikes in the same western Tel al-Sultan district of Rafah on Tuesday resulted in the deaths of at least 16 Palestinians, according to the Palestinian Civil Defense and the Palestinian Red Crescent. Residents have reported an escalation of fighting in Rafah, a city that had previously been considered a refuge in the conflict-ridden Gaza Strip.
An Israeli incursion launched in early May has caused nearly one million people to flee from Rafah, many of whom were already displaced due to ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. These displaced individuals now seek shelter in overcrowded tent camps and other devastated areas.
The United States and other allies have cautioned Israel against launching a full-scale offensive in Rafah. The Biden administration has stated that such an action would cross a “red line,” and has withheld offensive arms for such operations.
On Friday, the International Court of Justice issued an order for Israel to halt its offensive in Rafah. However, the court lacks the authority to enforce this directive. Despite international pressure, Netanyahu has vowed to continue the operations, asserting that Israeli forces need to enter Rafah to dismantle Hamas and secure the return of hostages taken during the October 7 attack that sparked the current conflict.
While Israel claims its operations are limited to eastern Rafah along the Gaza-Egypt border, residents have reported heavy bombardment overnight in the Tel al-Sultan district, indicating a significant escalation in military activity.
