IDF attributes Gaza airstrike deaths to unexplained fire

The Israeli military is blaming the deaths of dozens of Palestinian civilians on a fire that was ignited in the aftermath of an airstrike that killed two Hamas leaders.

Authorities in Hamas-run Gaza said that at least 45 people were killed and nearly 250 were injured in the airstrike and apparent subsequent fire over the weekend.

Israel Defense Forces spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said on Tuesday the targets of the strike were Yassin Rabia and Khaled Nagar, whom he described as “Hamas senior commanders.”

He said Israel’s military used two precision-guided munitions to target them a little less than a mile from the nearby designated humanitarian zone. The military is investigating what caused the fire that Hagari said resulted in the deaths of dozens.

“Despite our efforts to minimize civilian casualties during the strike, the fire that broke out was unexpected and unintended. This is a devastating incident, which we did not expect,” he said. “We’re investigating what caused the fire that resulted in this tragic loss of life. The investigation is ongoing.”

Hagari said the two munitions used for the strike, which he described as the “smallest munition that our jets can use,” could not have “ignited a fire of this size.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the strike a “tragic mistake.”

Leaders from across the globe, including politicians in the United States, condemned Israel for the strike, arguing it was a materialization of months of warnings of what could happen if Israel does not adequately safeguard the more than 1 million Palestinians who fled to Rafah to avoid the front lines earlier in the war.

Earlier this month, President Joe Biden said he would stop sending offensive military aid to Israel if it carried out a full-scale operation into Rafah, and his administration has held several meetings with their Israeli counterparts to convince them that they could achieve their goals in Rafah through more precise operations.

“Israel has a right to go after Hamas, and we understand this strike killed two senior Hamas terrorists who are responsible for attacks against Israeli civilians,” a U.S. National Security Council spokesperson said. “But as we’ve been clear, Israel must take every precaution possible to protect civilians.”

Hagari argued Hamas is in Rafah and continues to pose a threat to Israel as the IDF continues to operate in the city.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

The IDF said on Telegram overnight into Tuesday that IDF forces “operated on the Philadelphi Corridor,” which is along the Gaza-Egyptian border, adding: “The troops are engaging with terrorists in close-quarters combat and locating terror tunnel shafts, weapons, and additional terrorist infrastructure in the area.”

The Israeli strike and subsequent fire that killed dozens came just days after the International Court of Justice ruled that Israel must “immediately halt” its offensive into the Rafah enclave in Gaza and the International Criminal Court announced its intent to seek arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes.

Israel’s actions in Rafah have continued to hamper its standing internationally as the war has further isolated the country.