Israel-Gaza War
Israel Denies Strike on Rafah Camp Caused Deadly Fire
Israel blames Hamas weapons for Rafah camp fire. At least 45 dead, international outrage grows.
Rafah, Gaza Strip – The Israeli military has denied responsibility for a deadly fire that erupted in a tent camp in Rafah, Gaza, following an airstrike on Sunday night. The blaze resulted in the deaths of at least 45 displaced Palestinians, including women and children, and has sparked widespread international condemnation.
The incident occurred in the Tel al-Sultan neighborhood, a designated humanitarian area where thousands of Palestinians had sought refuge from ongoing hostilities. According to the Gaza Health Ministry, the fire caused severe injuries to around 200 individuals, many of whom were trapped in the flames.
Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), addressed the media on Tuesday, asserting that the fire was not directly caused by the Israeli airstrike. Hagari explained that the IDF had targeted a "closed structure away from the tent camp" and suggested that secondary explosions from a Hamas weapons cache might have ignited the fire. He emphasized that the munitions used in the strike were too small to cause such extensive damage on their own.
"Our munition alone could not have ignited a fire of this size," Hagari stated. "We are investigating all possibilities, including the possibility that weapons stored in a compound adjacent to our target, which we were unaware of, may have ignited as a result of the strike."
The IDF's preliminary investigation indicates that the fire may have been exacerbated by the detonation of fuel or cooking gas canisters within the camp. Despite these assertions, the international community has expressed outrage over the incident, with many calling for an immediate ceasefire and a thorough investigation.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the strike as a "tragic mistake" and reiterated Israel's commitment to minimizing civilian casualties. "Despite our utmost efforts not to harm innocent civilians, last night, there was a tragic mistake. We are investigating the incident and will obtain a conclusion because this is our policy," Netanyahu said in a speech to the Israeli parliament.
The Rafah camp fire has intensified scrutiny on Israel's military operations in Gaza, which have been ongoing for nearly eight months. The conflict began after a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 Israelis and the capture of around 250 hostages. Since then, the Gaza Health Ministry reports that over 36,000 Palestinians have been killed, though this figure does not distinguish between combatants and noncombatants.
The United States, Israel's closest ally, has reiterated its opposition to a major ground offensive in Rafah. White House national security spokesperson John Kirby stated that the U.S. does not believe a large-scale ground operation is necessary and has not observed such an operation thus far. Kirby expressed sympathy for the loss of innocent lives and acknowledged Israel's ongoing investigation into the incident.
The international response has been swift and severe. Neighboring Egypt and Jordan, both of which have peace treaties with Israel, condemned the strike. Egypt's Foreign Ministry described the attack as a "new and blatant violation of the rules of humanitarian international law," while Jordan's Foreign Ministry labeled it a "war crime."
Humanitarian organizations, including Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), have also voiced their horror at the incident. MSF reported that at least 15 fatalities and numerous injuries were taken to a trauma stabilization point supported by the organization. "We are horrified by this deadly event, which shows once again that nowhere is safe," MSF stated, calling for an immediate and sustained ceasefire in Gaza.
The United Nations has also weighed in, with Secretary-General António Guterres condemning the violence and calling for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council to discuss the situation. "There is no safe place in Gaza. This horror must stop," Guterres said.
As the investigation continues, the IDF has launched 70 criminal probes into incidents that may involve violations of international law, including civilian deaths and conditions at detention facilities. The outcome of these investigations will be closely watched by the international community, which remains deeply concerned about the humanitarian impact of the ongoing conflict in Gaza.