Fragments of U.S. bombs discovered at the location of Israeli airstrike in Rafah camp

An Israeli military strike in southern Gaza using a U.S.-made precision bomb has resulted in the deaths of at least 45 people, according to four weapons experts who reviewed visual evidence provided to The Washington Post. The strike, which targeted an encampment in Rafah, has raised concerns about civilian casualties and the use of American-supplied munitions in the conflict.

The fragments of an SDB GBU-39, a 250-pound small-diameter precision munition, were found near the site of the strike, linking the attack to U.S. weaponry. Israel claimed the strike was targeted at two Hamas militants, but witnesses described the devastation caused by the explosions as “shaking the entire city.”

Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed horror at the attack and called for an immediate investigation into the incident. The United States has supplied Israel with precision guided bombs, including the GBU-39, in the past, but has not halted transfers despite the ongoing conflict.

The strike, which occurred near a U.N. Relief and Works Agency logistics base, destroyed makeshift shelters for displaced Palestinians. The camp in Rafah had swelled with refugees seeking safety from the violence in other parts of Gaza.

The aftermath of the strike was described as horrific, with scenes of charred bodies and body parts strewn across the area. The smell of death permeated the air as residents tried to make sense of the destruction caused by the precision bomb.

The use of U.S.-made munitions in the strike has raised questions about the role of American weaponry in the conflict and the need for greater accountability in targeting practices to prevent civilian casualties.