World leaders condemn Israeli strike, Egypt soldier killed in shooting incident

Dozens of people were killed in Rafah late Sunday after an Israeli airstrike on an area where displaced civilians were sheltering in tents and sparked a fire that tore across the camp, local officials said. The strike drew condemnation from world leaders just days after the United Nations’ top court ordered Israel to halt its offensive on the southern Gaza city where more than a million had sought refuge.

In an address to the Knesset on Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the strike “a tragic mistake.” As global outcry mounted, the Israel Defense Forces initially said it had targeted two senior Hamas leaders, did not strike a designated humanitarian area, and took steps to reduce the risk of harming civilians. However, a full investigation would be conducted into “the deaths of civilians in the area of the strike.”

Qatar warned it could hinder efforts to reach a cease-fire deal, which had been renewed in Europe over the weekend. Adding to tensions, Egypt’s military said one of its soldiers was killed after reports of a firefight with Israeli forces at the Rafah border area.

The Gaza health ministry reported that at least 45 people had been killed in the Tal al-Sultan neighborhood, the majority of them women and children. First responders had warned the number of casualties could rise as many were trapped in flames that erupted following the bombardment.

The strike has been described as a horrific “massacre” by Hamas, while world leaders and aid groups have expressed outrage and concern over the escalating violence in the region. The situation remains tense as efforts to reach a cease-fire deal continue amidst the ongoing conflict.