Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has acknowledged that a "tragic mishap" resulting from an Israeli airstrike in the southern Gaza city of Rafah.

The strike ignited a fire in a camp where displaced Palestinians were housed, reportedly resulting in the deaths of at least 45 people, as stated by local officials.

tragic mishap
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The airstrike further fueled the mounting international condemnation directed at Israel for its conflict with Hamas, prompting even its closest allies to express dismay at civilian casualties.

Despite Israel's assertion of adherence to international law, it remains under scrutiny in top courts globally, with one recently demanding an end to the offensive in Rafah.

Netanyahu refrained from providing further details on the incident. Initially, Israel’s military claimed to have executed a targeted airstrike on a Hamas compound, resulting in the deaths of two senior militants. However, as more information regarding the strike and ensuing fire surfaced, the military announced an investigation into civilian casualties.

Sunday night’s attack, seemingly among the deadliest in the conflict, contributed to surpassing the overall Palestinian death toll in the war above 36,000, as reported by the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not differentiate between fighters and noncombatants in its count.

According to reports from the Gaza Health Ministry and the Palestinian Red Crescent rescue service, the death toll reached at least 45 individuals. Among the deceased were confirmed to be at least 12 women, eight children, and three older adults. Additionally, three bodies were tragically burned beyond recognition.

Mohammed Abuassa, who was fast to reach the site in the northwestern neighborhood of Tel al-Sultan, elaborated that rescuers “pulled out people who were in an unbearable state.”

“We pulled out children who were in pieces. We pulled out young and elderly people. The fire in the camp was unreal,” he added.

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