DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip. The Israeli military has reported that a secondary explosion was responsible for a deadly fire in the Rafah tent camp following a weekend airstrike. Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, the chief military spokesman, confirmed on Tuesday that the fire was not directly caused by the Israeli munitions but likely by stored weapons in the area.
The airstrike on Sunday targeted two senior Hamas militants using two 17-kilogram (37-pound) munitions, which Hagari stated were too small to start a fire independently. The possibility of weapons, fuel, or cooking gas canisters being present in the densely populated camp is being investigated. Palestinian health officials reported that at least 45 people, including many women and children, died in the strike.
The incident has sparked widespread outrage, including criticism from Israel’s closest allies. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described it as a “tragic mishap.”
On Tuesday, further strikes in the Tel al-Sultan district of Rafah resulted in at least 16 more Palestinian deaths, according to the Palestinian Civil Defense and the Palestinian Red Crescent. Residents have reported a significant escalation of fighting in southern Gaza, once seen as a refuge from conflict.
An Israeli military incursion launched in early May has forced nearly 1 million people to flee from Rafah, many of whom had already been displaced by the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. These individuals now reside in overcrowded tent camps and other devastated areas.
The Biden administration and other allies have cautioned Israel against a full-scale offensive in Rafah, warning that such actions would cross a “red line.” The International Court of Justice has called for a halt to the offensive, although it lacks the power to enforce this order.
Despite these warnings, Netanyahu has pledged to continue the operations, aiming to dismantle Hamas and secure the release of hostages taken during the October 7 attack that ignited the war. Current Israeli operations are focused on eastern Rafah, near the Gaza-Egypt border, though residents report heavy bombardment in the Tel al-Sultan area.
“It was a night of horror,” recounted Abdel-Rahman Abu Ismail, a Palestinian from Gaza City now sheltering in Tel al-Sultan. He described continuous explosions and the presence of fighter jets and drones overhead. Sayed al-Masri, another Rafah resident, noted the worsening situation, with many families fleeing to the crowded Muwasi area or to Khan Younis.
Medical services in Tel al-Sultan are in crisis, with two facilities out of service due to nearby bombings. The Tel al-Sultan medical center and the Indonesian Field Hospital are on lockdown, with medics, patients, and displaced individuals trapped inside.
The war, which began with a surprise attack by Hamas and other militants on October 7, has led to significant casualties and displacement. Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed at least 36,096 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The humanitarian situation is dire, with widespread displacement and famine conditions in parts of Gaza.
The conflict in Rafah has hindered the import and distribution of humanitarian aid. Although the Israeli military claims to have allowed hundreds of trucks to enter through the Kerem Shalom crossing, aid groups report difficulty accessing these supplies due to ongoing fighting. The U.N. has managed to collect aid from only about 170 trucks over the past three weeks, a fraction of the 600 trucks a day that aid organizations say are needed.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
