IDF: Palestinian Munitions May Have Caused Deadly Fire Following Targeted Strike on Hamas Leaders
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated on Tuesday that a hidden weapons cache might have caused a deadly fire in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip. An airstrike targeting a nearby area utilized small munitions that, according to the IDF, could not have started the fire independently.
The military suspects that stored munitions or other flammable materials triggered a secondary explosion, spreading the fire in a complex housing displaced Gazans in Rafah. This incident resulted in the deaths of dozens of Palestinian civilians. The airstrike aimed to target two top Hamas commanders in the area.
The attack and resulting deaths have drawn international condemnation, with Palestinians and several Arab countries labeling it a “massacre.” The UN Security Council scheduled an emergency meeting on Tuesday to discuss the incident. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the event as a “tragic mishap.”
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Israel continues its controversial offensive in Rafah, which has faced significant opposition, including from the United States, due to the risk to noncombatants. Over 1 million people have sought refuge amid the ongoing conflict. The IDF has advised civilians to relocate to designated safe zones, where many displaced individuals are currently living in tents.
The IDF reported tracking Hamas commanders Yassin Rabia and Khaled Najjar before the Sunday night strike in the Tel Sultan neighborhood in western Rafah. According to military intelligence, the area was used for Hamas activities, with a rocket launcher located nearby.
IDF Spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari emphasized that the strike aimed to avoid civilian casualties and used small warheads to minimize collateral damage. Despite these measures, a fire broke out, leading to civilian fatalities. The IDF is investigating the cause, suspecting that stored ammunition or weapons might have contributed to the secondary explosion and fire.
In a separate incident, Hamas claimed that another 21 people were killed in a strike on the al-Mawasi safe zone. The IDF denied targeting the humanitarian area.
The conflict in Gaza began with Hamas’s attack on southern Israel on October 7, resulting in approximately 1,200 Israeli deaths and 252 hostages. Israel has vowed to dismantle Hamas’s regime in Gaza and secure the hostages’ release.
The war has severely damaged Gaza’s infrastructure, leading to a humanitarian crisis. A recent setback involved part of a US military pier off Gaza breaking off, hindering efforts to deliver humanitarian aid. The pier, announced by President Joe Biden in March, has been operational for two weeks and is essential for transporting aid to Gazans.
