Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says a deadly air strike in the area of Rafah in southern Gaza that killed dozens of Palestinians was not intended to cause civilian casualties and will be investigated.
The air strikes killed at least 45 Palestinians and wounded dozens in an area of the southern Gaza Strip city which was designated for the displaced, Palestinian health and civil emergency service officials said.
"In Rafah we have already evacuated about a million non-involved residents and, despite our best efforts not to harm the non-involved, unfortunately a tragic mishap happened last night," Mr Netanyahu said in a speech in the Israeli parliament that was interrupted by shouting from opposition politicians.
"We are investigating the case [and] we will present the conclusions because this is our policy".
The mayor of Rafah, Ahmed Al-Sofi, said the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched more than seven missiles, which started fires at a compound of refugee camps and a depot for UNRWA.
"The IDF has declared this area as safe which is why we were surprised by the heavy bombardment," he said.
"They burnt people alive as they started screaming in the middle of the night.
"The civil defence workers were unable to help anyone and the hospitals ceased to function, particularly the main hospital ... There are no special services to treat burns."
Mohammed Abuassa, who rushed to the scene in the north-west neighbourhood of Tel al-Sultan, said rescuers "pulled out people who were in an unbearable state".
"We pulled out children who were in pieces. We pulled out young and elderly people. The fire in the camp was unreal," he said.
Israel's top military prosecutor described an air strike on Rafah as "very grave".
The prosecutor said an after-action investigation by the Israeli armed forces was underway.
"The details of the incident are still under an investigation, which we are committed to conducting to the fullest extent," Major-General Yifat Tomer Yerushalmi told a conference hosted by the Israel Bar Association.
"The IDF [Israel Defense Forces] regrets any harm to non-combatants during the war."
Following the air strikes in Rafah, Australia's Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong renewed calls for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire.
"Israel's strikes have had horrific and unacceptable consequences," she said in a statement.
"Australia has been very clear that Israel must not proceed with its operation in Rafah where more than half of Gaza's 2.3 million people are sheltering.
"Hamas must release all hostages, stop using Palestinian civilians as human shields and lay down its arms."
Israel says air force targeted Hamas compound
The Israeli military said its air force struck a Hamas compound in Rafah and the strike was carried out with "precise ammunition and on the basis of precise intelligence".
It took out Hamas' chief of staff for the West Bank and another senior official behind deadly attacks on Israelis, it said.
"The IDF is aware of reports indicating that as a result of the strike and fire that was ignited several civilians in the area were harmed. The incident is under review."
The strike took place in Tel Al-Sultan neighbourhood in western Rafah, where thousands of people were taking shelter after many fled the eastern areas of the city where Israeli forces began a ground offensive more than two weeks ago.
The International Committee of the Red Cross said its field hospital in Rafah was receiving an influx of casualties, and other hospitals also were taking in a large number of patients.
Senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri described the attack in Rafah as a "massacre", holding the United States responsible for aiding Israel with weapons and money.
"The air strikes burnt the tents, the tents are melting and the people's bodies are also melting," said one of the residents who arrived at the Kuwaiti hospital in Rafah.
The United States urged Israel to take every precaution to protect civilians after "devastating images" emerged following the strike.
"Israel has a right to go after Hamas, and we understand this strike killed two senior Hamas terrorists who are responsible for attacks against Israeli civilians," a National Security Council spokesperson said. "But as we've been clear, Israel must take every precaution possible to protect civilians.
"We are actively engaging the IDF and partners on the ground to assess what happened, and understand that the IDF is conducting an investigation."
In a separate development, Egypt's military said one of its soldiers was shot dead during an exchange of fire in the Rafah area, without providing further details.
Israel said it was in contact with Egyptian authorities, and both sides said they were investigating.
Reuters/ABC
Posted, updated
