With worldwide condemnation mounting, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel mentioned Monday that the killing of dozens of individuals in a camp for displaced Palestinians in Rafah was “a tragic accident,” however gave no signal of curbing the Israeli offensive there.
His feedback got here at a very delicate time, simply three days after the Worldwide Court docket of Justice appeared to order Israel to instantly halt its offensive within the metropolis and as diplomats have been aiming to restart negotiations for a cease-fire and hostage launch deal between Israel and Hamas sooner or later within the subsequent week.
Israel mentioned the strike on Sunday night time killed two Hamas officers, however the civilian deaths generated prompt condemnation, probably making it tougher for Israel to defend its view that the paradox of the courtroom order allowed it to proceed its marketing campaign in Rafah.
President Emmanuel Macron of France mentioned on Monday that he was “outraged” by the airstrike in Rafah, including that these operations “should cease.”
Mr. Netanyahu mentioned in a speech to the Israeli Parliament that Israel tried to attenuate civilian deaths by asking Gazans to evacuate, however “regardless of our supreme effort to not hurt uninvolved civilians, a tragic accident occurred to our remorse final night time.” He accused Hamas of hiding among the many basic inhabitants, saying, “For us, each uninvolved civilian who’s damage is a tragedy. For Hamas it’s a method. That’s the entire distinction.”
The navy mentioned the goal of the strike on Sunday was a Hamas compound, including that “exact munitions” have been used to get rid of a Hamas commander and one other senior Hamas official on the web site.
However at the very least 45 folks have been killed by the blast and subsequent fires, in keeping with the Gaza well being ministry, together with 23 girls, youngsters and older folks. The ministry mentioned that 249 folks have been wounded.
An Israeli official, talking on situation of anonymity to debate a delicate matter, mentioned on Monday that an preliminary investigation by the navy had concluded that the strike, or shrapnel from it, might have unexpectedly ignited a flammable substance on the web site. Eyewitnesses described intense fires within the aftermath of the strike.
The Israeli navy mentioned in a press release on Monday that it had taken plenty of steps earlier than the strike to cut back the danger of harming uninvolved civilians, together with conducting aerial surveillance and utilizing exact munitions. “Primarily based on these measures, it was assessed that there can be no anticipated hurt to uninvolved civilians,” the navy mentioned.
Army drone footage of the assault, reviewed by The New York Instances, confirmed the munition putting an space housing a number of massive cabinlike buildings and parked vehicles.
Two Israeli officers mentioned that the strike came about exterior the designated humanitarian zone that was supposed to supply secure refuge to residents being instructed to evacuate to get out of hurt’s method. The navy produced a map exhibiting what it mentioned was the situation of the strike in relation to the designated humanitarian space.
The navy named the 2 targets of the strike as Yassin Rabia, the commander of Hamas’s management within the occupied West Financial institution, and Khaled Nagar, a senior official in the identical wing of the group. The navy mentioned the West Financial institution wing was accountable for planning, funding and finishing up terrorist assaults all through the West Financial institution and inside Israel.
In a press release, Hamas described the Israeli strike on Rafah as “a horrific struggle crime” and demanded the “fast and pressing implementation” of the World Court docket’s choice. The group didn’t check with the Israeli navy’s assertions concerning the two Hamas officers who have been the targets of the strike.
The strike occurred in Tal as Sultan in northwest Rafah, in keeping with the navy. Israeli floor troops have to date been working in southeast Rafah, and within the slender hall alongside the Egyptian border.
The order issued on Friday by the courtroom, an arm of the United Nations, in The Hague got here as a part of a case introduced by South Africa accusing Israel of committing genocide in Gaza. It referred to as on Israel to instantly halt any actions in Rafah, “which can inflict upon the Palestinian group in Gaza circumstances of life that might result in its bodily destruction in entire and partly.”
Israeli officers have argued that the 13-2 ruling allowed it to proceed combating in Rafah on grounds that Israel had not, and wouldn’t, inflict such circumstances on Palestinians.
However even a few of Israel’s allies don’t view the order that method. Germany’s vice chancellor, Robert Habeck, mentioned on Saturday that Israel’s offensive in Rafah was “incompatible with worldwide legislation.”
Patrick Kingsley, Myra Noveck and Johnatan Reiss reporting.
