Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the Israeli parliament on Monday, describing a deadly strike on a displacement camp in Rafah, Gaza, as a “tragic accident” that is currently under investigation by his government.
“In Rafah, we evacuated a million uninvolved residents and, despite our best efforts, a tragic accident happened yesterday,” Netanyahu told lawmakers. He assured that the incident, which resulted in the deaths of 45 people and injuries to 249 according to Gaza’s health ministry, is being thoroughly investigated and that conclusions will be drawn.
The strike, which ignited a fire that devastated a tent city for displaced Gazans, prompted a wave of international condemnation from countries and organizations including the European Union, France, and the United Nations.
The Israeli military stated it launched the strike based on “precise intelligence information” targeting two Hamas militants, who were reportedly killed. The military also noted that the strike did not occur in the al-Mawasi area, a designated humanitarian zone where civilians were encouraged to evacuate.
In his speech, Netanyahu struck a defiant tone amid heckles from relatives of hostages held in Gaza, reiterating his commitment to destroying Hamas. “There is no substitute for absolute victory” in Gaza, he emphasized.
Netanyahu criticized both internal and external pressures against military operations in Gaza. He listed various locations where Israel has conducted military actions, affirming his resolve to continue: “They pressured us then… ‘Don’t enter Gaza. We entered! Do not enter Shifa! We entered! Do not enter Khan Younis! We entered! Do not enter Rafah! We entered!’ I don’t give up and I won’t give up! I stand up to pressures from home and abroad.”
The conflict in Gaza erupted following the October 7 Hamas attack on southern Israel, which resulted in the deaths of over 1,170 people, mostly civilians. Israel’s subsequent military offensive has led to at least 36,050 deaths in Gaza, primarily civilians, according to the territory’s health ministry.
