Netanyahu describes deadly Israeli strike in Rafah as a ‘tragic mistake’
TEL AVIV, Israel—Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated on Monday that a “tragic mistake” occurred in an Israeli strike in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, resulting in a camp housing displaced Palestinians catching fire and reportedly causing the deaths of at least 45 individuals, according to local officials.
Mr. Netanyahu did not provide further details regarding the error. Initially, Israel’s military claimed to have conducted a precise airstrike on a Hamas compound, targeting two senior terrorists. However, as more information about the strike and resulting fire surfaced, the military announced an investigation into the civilian casualties.
The attack on Sunday night raised the overall Palestinian death toll in the conflict to over 36,000, as reported by the Gaza Health Ministry run by Hamas, which does not differentiate between combatants and noncombatants in its count.
“Despite our concerted efforts to avoid harming innocent civilians, a tragic mistake occurred last night,” stated Mr. Netanyahu on Monday during an address to Israel’s parliament. “We are currently investigating the incident and will reach a conclusion as per our policy.”
Reports from the Gaza Health Ministry and the Palestinian Red Crescent rescue service indicate that at least 45 individuals lost their lives.
In a separate development, Egypt’s military announced the death of one of its soldiers in a shooting exchange in the Rafah area, without giving additional details. Both Israel and Egypt confirmed that they were in contact with each other and conducting investigations.
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An initial inquiry revealed that the soldier was involved in a firefight between Israeli forces and Palestinian terrorists, as stated by Egypt’s state-owned Qahera TV. Egypt has cautioned that Israel’s actions in Rafah could jeopardize the longstanding peace treaty between the two nations.
The U.N. Security Council has scheduled an emergency closed meeting for Tuesday afternoon to address the situation in Rafah, following a request from Algeria, the Arab representative on the council, according to two council diplomats who informed The Associated Press.
Rafah, Gaza’s southernmost city bordering Egypt, was home to over a million displaced individuals—roughly half of Gaza’s population—who had fled from other parts of the territory. Many have once again evacuated since Israel initiated what it labeled as a limited incursion into the area earlier this month, with hundreds of thousands residing in overcrowded tent camps within and around the city.
Mr. Netanyahu emphasized the need for Israel to dismantle what he claims are the last remaining battalions of Hamas terrorists in Rafah. The terrorist organization launched a series of rockets from the city towards densely populated central Israel on Sunday, triggering air raid alerts but causing no injuries.
The U.S. National Security Council expressed in a statement that the “devastating images” from the Rafah attack were “heartbreaking,” adding that the United States was collaborating with the Israeli military and others to assess the situation.
Qatar, a crucial mediator in the efforts to secure a ceasefire and the release of Hamas-held hostages, indicated that the Rafah incident could complicate negotiations, which seem to be resuming. Talks have faced repeated setbacks due to Hamas’s demand for a lasting truce and the withdrawal of Israeli forces, terms that Israeli leaders have publicly opposed.
Maj. Gen. Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi, the Israeli military’s top legal official, confirmed that investigations were ongoing into the Rafah strike, expressing regret for the loss of civilian lives.
Addressing an Israeli lawyers’ conference, Tomer-Yerushalmi disclosed that Israel had launched 70 criminal probes into potential violations of international law, encompassing civilian deaths, conditions in detention facilities housing suspected terrorists, and deaths of some detainees in Israeli custody. The inquiries also cover incidents of property crimes and looting.
Israel has refuted accusations of genocide brought against it by South Africa at the International Court of Justice. Last week, the court directed Israel to halt its offensive in Rafah, a ruling it lacks the authority to enforce.
Separately, the chief prosecutor at the International Criminal Court is seeking arrest warrants for Netanyahu, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and three Hamas leaders over alleged crimes linked to the conflict. The ICC intervenes only when it determines that the state in question is incapable or unwilling to properly prosecute such offenses.
Israel maintains that it strives to adhere to the laws of war, highlighting that it faces an adversary that does not share such commitments, hides within civilian areas, and refuses to unconditionally release Israeli hostages.
The war was instigated by the Hamas terrorist group’s incursion into Israel on Oct. 7, resulting in the deaths of around 1,200 individuals, predominantly civilians, and the seizure of approximately 250 hostages. Currently, Hamas still holds about 100 hostages and the remains of around 30 individuals after most others were released during a previous ceasefire.
