Amid growing global outrage over the strike, the Israeli military announced it had targeted two senior Hamas leaders in Rafah and assured that a full investigation would be conducted into the civilian casualties "in the area of the strike."
Late Sunday in Rafah, an Israeli airstrike hit an area where displaced civilians were sheltering in tents, killing dozens and igniting a fire that spread through the camp, local officials reported. Images showed flames engulfing the area as screaming Palestinians fled, with some videos on social media showing severely burned corpses and a man holding what appeared to be the headless body of a small child.
The strike prompted condemnation from world leaders, just days after the United Nations' top court ordered Israel to halt its offensive on southern Gaza City, where over a million people had sought refuge. Amid mounting global outrage, the Israel Defense Forces stated they had targeted two senior Hamas leaders, did not strike a designated humanitarian area, and had taken steps to minimize civilian harm, but promised a full investigation into "the deaths of civilians in the area of the strike."
Qatar warned that the incident could hinder efforts to reach a cease-fire deal, which had been renewed in Europe over the weekend. Adding to the tensions, the IDF reported a "shooting incident on the Egyptian border" under review, with discussions held with Egyptian officials. Rafah is located on Gaza’s southern border with Egypt.
NBC News could not independently verify the situation on the ground.
The Gaza health ministry reported at least 35 deaths in the Tal al-Sultan neighborhood, mostly women and children, with first responders warning that the casualty number could rise as many were trapped in the flames. By Monday, the death toll had risen to at least 45 people, according to the ministry.
Muhammad Al-Mughir, a spokesman for the Palestinian Civil Defense in Rafah Estonian Civil Defense in Rafah, called the event "the largest massacre in the city of Rafah in months," emphasizing that the area hit was a designated "humanitarian area" near U.N. warehouses. Samuel Johann, the emergency coordinator in Gaza for Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders), said the strike occurred just under a mile from an MSF stabilization point for trauma patients, with the facility receiving dozens of people, at least 28 dead, and 180 injured.
One family described their harrowing escape after the apartment building they were sheltering in was impacted. "Suddenly, windows shattered," Hala Siam told NBC News’ crew on the ground. "The children got scared. We all went out to the street." Referring to the area she and her family had considered safe, Siam added, "There is no safe place in Rafah." null
The IDF stated that its strike targeted two Hamas leaders responsible for organizing terrorist attacks in the occupied West Bank. Acknowledging reports that civilian tents were ignited in the strike, the IDF said the incident was "under review."
In a subsequent statement, the IDF explained that the airstrike was based on "prior intelligence information regarding the presence of senior Hamas terrorists at the site." They emphasized that "several steps were taken to reduce the risk of harming uninvolved civilians" and assessed that "there would be no expected harm to uninvolved civilians." An investigation is underway into "the circumstances of the deaths of civilians in the area of the strike," and the IDF expressed regret for any harm to uninvolved civilians during combat.
Hamas described the strike as a horrific "massacre," but did not confirm the death of the commander or senior leader.
Earlier on Sunday, Hamas' military wing announced a missile barrage into Israel targeting Tel Aviv, the first in many weeks. The IDF reported that eight projectiles were identified crossing from the area of Rafah into Israeli territory, with several being intercepted.
As outrage mounted over Sunday's Rafah attack, mediators Qatar and Egypt condemned the assault as a violation of international law. Qatar, a key broker in talks with Hamas, warned that it could jeopardize efforts toward a truce deal aimed at securing the release of remaining hostages.
Following weekend talks involving CIA Director William Burns in Paris, an Israeli official told NBC News that the Israeli government was hopeful negotiations might resume this week.
However, French President Emmanuel Macron expressed his indignation, stating he was "outraged by the Israeli strikes that have killed many displaced persons in Rafah," and insisted that "these operations must stop." The European Union's foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, also condemned the strike, saying he was "horrified."
A spokesperson for the U.S. National Security Council commented after Sunday's strike: “We’re aware of the reports and gathering more information.”
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