Israel-Gaza war: Netanyahu acknowledges ‘tragic mistake’ after strike kills dozens at Rafah tent camp
- At least 45 were killed, dozens injured in Sunday air strike that hit tents for displaced people in Rafah
- Netanyahu says ‘tragic mistake’ happened ‘despite our utmost efforts not to harm innocent civilians’
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Netanyahu acknowledges ‘tragic mistake’ after air strike kills dozens at Rafah tent camp
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu acknowledged that a “tragic mistake” had been made after an Israeli strike in the southern Gaza city of Rafah set fire to a tent camp housing displaced Palestinians and, according to local officials, killed at least 45 people.
The mistake only added to the surging international criticism Israel has faced over its war with Hamas, with even its closest allies expressing outrage at civilian deaths.
Israel insists it adheres to international law even as it faces scrutiny in the world’s top courts, one of which last week demanded that it halt the offensive in Rafah.
Israel’s military had earlier said that it launched an investigation into civilian deaths after it struck a Hamas installation and killed two senior militants.
Sunday night’s attack, which appeared to be one of the war’s deadliest, helped push the overall Palestinian death toll in the war above 36,000, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between fighters and non-combatants in its tally.
