Israel is facing a surge of international condemnation following a strike on Rafah that Gaza officials report killed 45 people. The attack ignited a fire that devastated a tent city sheltering displaced Palestinians.
In response to the outcry, Israel announced it is investigating the “tragic accident” and its civilian toll, highlighting the ongoing complexities of the Gaza conflict that has been raging since October 7.
The situation has further escalated tensions that have been on edge since Israel began its ground operations in Rafah earlier in May.
On Monday, a “shooting incident” at the border area between Egypt and the southern Gaza Strip resulted in the death of an Egyptian guard, as confirmed by both Israeli and Egyptian military sources, who are currently conducting investigations.
The Israeli military stated that Sunday evening’s strike in southern Rafah aimed at eliminating two senior Hamas operatives.
However, the ensuing fire has led to widespread condemnation from Palestinians and numerous Arab nations, who have labeled the incident a “massacre.” The backlash underscores the growing international pressure on Israel amid the deepening crisis.
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A spokesperson for the US National Security Council emphasized that Israel “must take every precaution possible to protect civilians.”
UN Middle East envoy Tor Wennesland urged Israel to conduct a “thorough and transparent” investigation into the strike. Similarly, UN human rights chief Volker Turk condemned the “horrific” images, criticizing the apparent lack of change in Israel’s warfare tactics that have resulted in numerous civilian casualties.
French President Emmanuel Macron called for an end to the operations, stating on X that “there are no safe areas in Rafah for Palestinian civilians.”
Displaced Gazan Khalil al-Bahtini, preparing to leave the affected area, expressed his distress to AFP, recounting how “last night, the tent opposite to ours was targeted.” He added, “We have loaded all our belongings, but we don’t know where to go.”
EU foreign ministers, led by the bloc’s top diplomat Josep Borrell, agreed to convene a meeting with Israel to seek an explanation for its actions in Rafah. Borrell described the strike as “horrifying.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu informed parliament that the government was investigating the “tragic accident,” which occurred “despite our best efforts” to protect civilians.
During his address, Netanyahu faced heckling from relatives of captives held in Gaza, who demanded action to secure a hostage release deal. The relatives displayed posters of their loved ones from the public gallery.
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The attack on Rafah was launched by Israel late Sunday after Hamas fired a barrage of rockets at the Tel Aviv area, most of which were intercepted. The Israeli military reported that its aircraft “struck a Hamas compound in Rafah,” killing senior Hamas officials Yassin Rabia and Khaled Nagar.
Gaza’s civil defense agency reported that the strike ignited a fire, devastating a displacement center in northwestern Rafah near a UNRWA facility. Civil defense official Mohammad al-Mughayyir described the aftermath: “We saw charred bodies and dismembered limbs … We also saw cases of amputations, wounded children, women, and the elderly.”