Netanyahu admitted 'tragic mistake' as civilians were 'burned alive' in Rafah camp

Destruction in Rafah after the Israeli strike Photo: AP A fire is raging in Tel el-Sultan, a western district of Rafah. Photo: Reuters

The overnight attack came hours after Tel Aviv was hit by a rare rocket attack from Rafah, the first in months.< /p>

Meanwhile, dozens of people were killed and many more injured as a result An Israeli airstrike hit the Tel el-Sultan neighborhood in western Rafah on Sunday evening, causing an explosion in the camp and killing many people, including women and children, inside. , local health officials said.

Eyewitnesses told Reuters that tents “melted” from the bombing, burning people alive.

At least 35 people were killed and dozens wounded, most of them women and children, a Hamas-run health official said. The Gaza ministry said this early on Monday morning.

Israel's chief military prosecutor called the Rafah explosion “very serious.”

“Details of the incident are still under investigation, which we We undertake to carry out this in full,” said Major General Yifat Tomer Yerushalmi at a conference organized by the Israeli Bar Association.

“The IDF regrets any harm to civilians during the war.”

On Monday, Egypt condemned what it called “the deliberate bombing of displaced persons’ tents by Israeli forces.”

People search among burning debris after the Rafah strike Photo: Mohammed Salem/Reuters

Jordan also expressed its condemnation, accusing Israel of committing “ongoing war crimes.” Qatar, meanwhile, said the explosion could undermine the ceasefire and hostage deal.

In a statement Monday morning, the IDF said: “The strike targeted legitimate targets in accordance with international right, using precision munitions and based on accurate intelligence indicating that Hamas was using the area.

“The IDF is aware of reports indicating that several civilians in the area were injured as a result of the strike and the fire. The incident is under investigation.”

A rare criticism of the ongoing Israeli offensive came Monday from Gadi Eisenkot, a highly respected war cabinet minister and a close ally of Israel's most popular politician, Benny Gantz.

Mr. Eizenkot, a former IDF chief of staff with good ties to the Biden administration, said on Monday that Israel needed to stop fighting in Rafah and prioritize ceasefire talks with Hamas to secure the release of Israeli hostages held in captivity for more than eight months.

“[Israel] must reach the finish line in the fighting in Rafah and continue the deal for the release of the hostages as an obligation and strategic necessity of the State of Israel,” Mr. Eisenkot said.

Children were among the wounded. Photo: Reuters

The senior official, whose son was killed in fighting in the Gaza Strip last year, also repeated the widespread belief among Israel watchers that Netanyahu's stated goal of “total victory” over Hamas is an illusion.

Reports and doctors on Na Widespread scenes of death and destruction were reported throughout Rafah, with many of the bodies being loaded and difficult to identify due to the impact of the explosion on the simple tents.

Sir Keir Starmer said he was “shocked” by the night scenes from Rafah and said the Israeli offensive must stop.

Asked what he would tell Mr Netanyahu if he were prime minister minister, the Labor Party leader responded: “Stop. These scenes, these reports are horrific, and what's worse is that this was a safe zone where women, children and families have already fled many times.

“It's terrible to see. I have been saying for some time that the attack on Rafah should not be carried out.”

He added: “I was shocked by what I saw last night, I think anyone would be shocked by what they saw. This needs to stop.”

Hisham Mkhanna of the International Committee of the Red Cross said hospitals are being overwhelmed with treating the wounded.

“Deadly night in Rafah,” he tweeted. “The ICRC field hospital coped with the influx of wounded and burns.”

Leaders in France, Germany, Spain condemned the explosion Photo: dpa Picture Alliance/Alamy Live News

The UN agency for Palestine refugees said on Monday it had lost contact with its staff on the ground and could not immediately determine their whereabouts.

On Monday, the EU foreign policy chief called on Israel to comply with an International Court of Justice ruling that specifically ordered Israel to withdraw at Rafah, and the Spanish prime minister said he would urge his colleagues to launch a joint appeal to Israel to comply with the ruling.

Qatar's Foreign Ministry, a key mediator between Israel and Hamas in talks on the release of Israeli hostages from the Gaza Strip, said on Monday that the attack on Rafah could hamper its mediation efforts.

p>The talks are expected to be mediated will resume this week.

Sunday night's attack was the worst loss of life in Rafah since Israel launched its operation there, despite numerous calls from around the world against what many predicted would be a bloodbath.< /p>

The US, a key Israeli ally, has strongly opposed the Rafah offensive, but US officials have indicated in recent days that what they have seen in Rafah so far is very limited and does not cross their red line.

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