Israel says deadly attack on Rafah was justified

Israel claims that the air force strike on Rafah in the Gaza Strip, which reportedly caused numerous civilian casualties, was a "precision strike" on two Hamas officials.

According to the Hamas-controlled Palestinian exclave's health ministry, the IDF struck the Tel al-Sultan neighborhood of Rafah, killing at least 35 people and wounding dozens, mostly women and children.

Footage from the area, reportedly designated as a safe zone for displaced people, showed widespread devastation as tent camps were engulfed in fire.

A Palestinian Red Crescent spokesman warned that the death toll could rise, with many people trapped in the burning rubble.

The video showed rescuers pulling severely burned survivors and charred bodies from the ruins, while first responders struggled to save the injured and put out the flames.  Earlier this month, the IDF ordered a partial evacuation of nearby areas, but said three blocks remained safe and encouraged people to take shelter there.

The Israeli military confirmed the airstrike, but claimed it had targeted Hamas facilities and succeeded in eliminating two "senior terrorists" accused of "planning and carrying out numerous attacks that killed IDF soldiers."

"The attack was carried out against legitimate targets under international law, based on the use of precision weapons and accurate intelligence information," the Israeli military said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

"The IDF is aware of reports indicating that several civilians were injured in the area as a result of the attack and fire," it added, adding, "This incident is currently under investigation.

"Last week, the United Nations' highest judicial body, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), ordered Israel to immediately halt operations in Rafah. The court said it was not convinced that "the evacuation efforts and related measures allegedly taken by Israel" were sufficient to reduce the "incalculable risk" to civilians.

The conflict between Israel and Hamas began on October 7, when the Gaza-based group launched a surprise attack in the south of the country, killing about 1,200 people and taking about 250 hostages. According to the enclave's health authorities, more than 35,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have been killed in extremist operations.