The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have stated that the recent deadly fire at a displacement camp in Rafah was not solely caused by weapons used by the Israeli military. According to IDF spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, their munitions alone could not have ignited a fire of such magnitude. The IDF is conducting an investigation to determine the possible causes of the large fire.
Rear Admiral Hagari mentioned that they are exploring all possibilities, including the scenario that weapons stored in a nearby compound, unbeknownst to them, may have ignited due to the strike. Aerial footage was presented by Hagari, showing a strike on a structure where senior Hamas commanders were reportedly meeting. The strike reportedly utilized two munitions with small warheads weighing 17 kilos each, which are the smallest munitions used by IDF jets.
Despite ongoing efforts to ascertain the cause of the fire, Hagari emphasized that it is still too early to definitively determine what sparked the blaze. He acknowledged the tragic nature of the situation, stating that even when the cause of the fire is identified, it will not diminish the severity of the incident.
The strike at the displacement camp resulted in at least 45 fatalities and left around 200 individuals injured. Disturbing video footage from the site depicted harrowing scenes, including charred bodies being recovered from the rubble, a heartbreaking image of a man cradling the headless body of a child, and tents engulfed in flames in the background.
