Preliminary investigations into the fire that erupted in a tent camp in Rafah after a targeted strike on senior Hamas terrorists indicate that the blaze could not have been caused solely by the weapons used by Israel.
In an English-language press conference, IDF Spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, said that secondary explosions of Hamas munitions likely caused the fire.
Hagari emphasized that the smallest munitions that Israeli jets can use, each carrying only 17 kg of explosive material, were employed for the targeted strike. These munitions have been used hundreds of times during the current war without similar consequences.
"We are investigating the possibility that Hamas munitions stored in the area of a strike might have caused a fire," Hagari said. He also mentioned that Hamas has been active in the area since October 7, and a Hamas rocket launcher was located just 47 meters from the strike site. Hamas was well aware of the location of the refugee tent camp.
He also said that the target was not in the al-Mawasi humanitarian area, which primarily houses displaced people and where the IDF has urged Gaza residents to evacuate to avoid combat zones.
An IDF drone strike targeted a site in the Tel al-Sultan area in northwest Rafah, killing Yassin Rabia, the Commander of Hamas's leadership in Judea and Samaria, and Khaled Nagar, a senior official in Hamas's Judea and Samaria wing.
Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry claims at least 45 people were killed and many were injured as a result of the fire.
