The Israeli government announced that, according to the initial findings of the investigation into the deadly Rafah “incident”, an Israeli airstrike “against Hamas commanders” caused a fire, resulting in the deaths of Palestinian civilians.

The Hamas Health Ministry announced a while ago that 45 people died in the Israeli raid on the Rafah refugee camp.

“The massacre in Rafah yesterday caused the death of 45 witnesses, among them 23 women, children and the elderly – 249 people were injured,” the Hamas statement reads.

The Israeli strike took place at a reception center for displaced people in Rafah on Sunday, according to the Gaza health ministry and Palestinian doctors, after Hamas fired eight rockets into Tel Aviv for the first time in months at noon on Sunday.

The Palestinian Authority presidency and Hamas accused Israel of carrying out a “massacre” of civilians, with the Israeli military saying it struck a compound where it said “major terrorists” were operating.

Gaza authorities and doctors say the reception center hit by Israel had been designated a “safe zone”. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said the shelling hit a militant compound in the area, killing two senior Hamas officials.

Videos shared on social media showed a large fire at the scene, which included a large container in which dozens of families had taken shelter, surrounded by hundreds of tents.

Rage in the EU over the Israeli strike in Rafah

Anger and sadness has been caused by the Israeli strike on Sunday night at a reception center for displaced people in Rafah where at least 45 people lost their lives. The attack, which came in retaliation after Hamas fired eight rockets into Tel Aviv for the first time in months on Sunday afternoon, resulted in people being burned alive by a fire set in tents.

French President Emmanuel Macron expressed his disgust at the numerous casualties among Palestinians who have taken refuge in Rafah and called for an “immediate ceasefire”.

“I am outraged by the Israeli strikes that have killed many displaced people in Rafah. These businesses must be stopped. There are no safe zones in Rafah for Palestinian civilians. I call for respect for international law and an immediate ceasefire,” the French president wrote to X.

Earlier, the EU’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, also expressed his anger, attacking Israel for promoting military action in southern Gaza despite a ruling by the International Court of Justice calling on the country to immediately stop this action.

“EU countries must discuss how to agree on the implementation of the world court’s decision. Israel continues its military action despite being asked to stop. The decision of the world court last week on Gaza must be implemented,” said Josep Borrell in brief statements before the meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels today, and added that “he will also work to achieve a policy decision to launch a special EU border assistance mission for the Rafah border crossing, also known as EUBAM’.