An Israeli airstrike ignited a fire that killed 45 people in a tent camp in Rafah, Gaza, on Sunday night, officials reported. This event has drawn criticism from global leaders urging adherence to a World Court order to cease Israel's military actions. Palestinian families hurried to hospitals to prepare their dead for burial after the strike set tents and metal shelters ablaze.
Israel's military, targeting Hamas commanders in Rafah, stated it was investigating the fire's cause. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized that civilian casualties were unintended, noting the evacuation of about a million non-combatants from Rafah, despite efforts to avoid civilian harm.
Survivors recounted preparing for sleep when the strike hit the Tel Al-Sultan neighborhood, where thousands had taken refuge following an Israeli ground offensive in eastern Rafah. Umm Mohamed Al-Attar described the sudden eruption of fire and the terrifying noise, with children screaming and shrapnel falling into rooms. Video footage showed chaos, with a fire raging and people panicking.
Health officials in Gaza, governed by Hamas, reported that over half of the deceased were women, children, and elderly people, and the death toll could rise due to severe burns. Medics later confirmed that another Israeli airstrike on a house in Rafah on Monday killed seven Palestinians and wounded several others.
Israel's military claimed the Sunday strike, based on "precise intelligence," eliminated Hamas' chief of staff for the West Bank and another official behind attacks on Israelis. This followed the interception of eight rockets from Rafah towards Israel. Israel continues its offensive despite a U.N. court order to halt, citing the court's ruling allowing some military action. The court also called for the immediate release of hostages held by Hamas.
The U.S. urged Israel to better protect civilians but did not call for a halt to the Rafah incursion. A National Security Council spokesperson affirmed Israel's right to target Hamas but emphasized the need to protect civilians. French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the attacks and called for a halt, stating there were no safe areas in Rafah. Protests erupted in Paris against the Gaza offensive.
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell insisted on compliance with the International Court of Justice ruling. Canada's government expressed horror over the airstrike, demanding an immediate ceasefire. Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar also condemned the attack, with Qatar warning it could hinder ceasefire and hostage exchange efforts.
The death toll in Gaza's offensive exceeds 36,000, according to Gaza's health ministry. The operation began after Hamas militants attacked Israeli communities on October 7, killing around 1,200 people and seizing over 250 hostages.
By daylight, the Rafah camp was a scene of destruction with smoking wreckage and grieving families. Abed Mohammed Al-Attar, who lost several relatives, criticized Israel's claims of safety in Rafah. The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the incident as a "heinous massacre," and Egypt decried the bombing as a violation of international law.
Israel's military is also investigating an exchange of fire near the Rafah border crossing, which resulted in one fatality.
Israeli tanks intensified bombardments in Rafah, killing at least eight people on Monday. Two medical workers were killed by a drone missile outside the Kuwaiti hospital in Rafah. An Israeli attack in Al-Nuseirat camp killed three Palestinian police officers. Israel aims to eliminate Hamas fighters in Rafah and rescue hostages believed to be held there.