News Brief
What Caused The Deadly Fire In Rafah Camp, Killing 45 Palestinians? Israeli Military Explains
IDF Spokesperson Daniel Hagari
The Israeli military has reported that its initial investigation findings suggest unexpected secondary explosions and a fire caused the deaths of dozens of civilians in an airstrike on Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on Sunday (26 May) night.
In a video posted on X on Tuesday by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), IDF Spokesman Daniel Hagari explained that the airstrike targeted a structure housing senior Hamas commanders Yassin Rabia and Khaled Najjar.
The IDF accused Rabia and Najjar of orchestrating and executing attacks against Israelis, NDTV reported.
Hagari stated that "due to unforeseen circumstances, a fire was tragically ignited, resulting in the loss of lives of nearby Gazan civilians."
He said that the munitions used in the strike contained only 17 kilos of explosive material, emphasising that this was the smallest amount that could be deployed by IDF jets.
The investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing, with the IDF considering all possibilities, including the presence of weapons stored in a compound adjacent to the target.
Hagari released video and photos of the targeted structure, highlighting that no tents were nearby and that the area had been evacuated beforehand.
He stressed that the IDF had taken all possible measures to prevent civilian harm, noting that their war is with Hamas, not the people of Gaza.
The attack resulted in at least 45 Palestinian deaths and numerous injuries, prompting severe criticism from regional countries and the international community.
