Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vehemently denied allegations that the country's air force intentionally harmed civilians in an airstrike targeting Hamas terrorists in Rafah on Sunday. Despite Hamas's most recent barrage of missiles into Israel, Netanyahu emphasized their efforts to avoid civilian casualties. However, reports indicate a significant number of civilian deaths in the strike, drawing criticism from the international community.
Amidst the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the country's military have categorically rejected assertions that the Israeli air force aimed to harm civilians in its strike that eliminated two senior Hamas leaders in Rafah on Sunday. This denial comes against a backdrop of widespread condemnation over the reported civilian casualties in the attack, which Hamas claims has killed dozens of innocent Palestinians.
In a speech to the Israeli parliament on Monday, Netanyahu vowed that the incident was being thoroughly investigated and assured that Israel adheres to a policy of minimizing civilian harm. He acknowledged that while efforts were made to evacuate non-combatants before the strike, "something unfortunately went tragically wrong."
Hamas, the ruling party in Gaza, has condemned the airstrike as a massacre, claiming that it targeted a civilian area. However, Israel maintains that the strike was precise and aimed at a military target. The IDF has released a statement outlining the steps taken to reduce civilian risk, including surveillance and intelligence-gathering.
The Biden administration has expressed deep concern over the reported civilian deaths in Rafah, stressing that Israel has a responsibility to take every precaution possible to protect innocents. The European Union has also condemned the strike, calling for an investigation into the circumstances.
The IDF has disputed Hamas's claims regarding the number of civilian casualties, accusing the terrorist organization of deliberately inflating the figures for propaganda purposes. The Israeli military has emphasized that the strike did not occur in the designated humanitarian area and has launched an investigation into the incident.
Tor Wennesland, the United Nations special coordinator for the Middle East peace process, has strongly condemned the airstrike, expressing deep concern over the reported loss of Palestinian lives, including women and children. He has called for a thorough and impartial investigation.
IDF spokesman Peter Lerner has dismissed a Hamas source who claimed that the strike took place in the humanitarian area, labeling the accusation as false propaganda. Lerner has asserted that the strike occurred in a separate location and that the number of civilian casualties reported by Hamas is exaggerated.
The IDF has established a fact-finding mechanism to investigate the circumstances surrounding the Rafah strike. The investigation will aim to determine the cause of civilian casualties and assess whether all necessary precautions were taken. The military has pledged to disclose the findings of the investigation and hold those responsible accountable.
