An investigation has been initiated by Israel following the deaths of at least 45 Palestinian refugees in the southern Gazan city of Rafah. The strike, carried out by the IDF, was intended to target a safe zone declared by West Jerusalem.
However, shrapnel from the strike caused a fuel tank to ignite, resulting in a large fire at a camp housing displaced individuals. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu acknowledged the civilian casualties and expressed regret for the tragic mistake.
The IDF had previously stated that the strike had killed two senior Hamas officials, but also emphasized that measures were taken to minimize harm to uninvolved civilians.
The incident has increased international pressure on Israel to either implement a comprehensive ceasefire in Gaza or reduce its operations in the densely populated Palestinian enclave.
French President Emmanuel Macron expressed outrage over the deaths, while the US National Security Council called the images from Rafah heartbreaking and urged Israel to prioritize the protection of civilians.
The IDF has admitted to mistakes in its targeting process in the past, although it denies intentionally targeting civilians.
One such incident was an attack on an aid convoy last month, which resulted in the deaths of seven foreign nationals.
Prime Minister Netanyahu, in his speech on Monday, expressed his determination to continue the fight against Hamas, emphasizing that surrendering would only benefit terrorism, Iran, and their allies.
According to local Hamas-run authorities, the ongoing conflict has claimed the lives of over 36,000 Palestinians in more than seven months.
The war between Israel and Hamas began after the militants launched an attack on southern Israeli settlements, resulting in the deaths of 1,200 people and the capture of over 200 hostages. Some of the hostages were later released during a weeklong truce in November through prisoner exchanges.
