Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu told Parliament on Monday that the Israeli strike on Rafah the day before was “ a tragic accident “. An event to which the United States reacted, urging its ally to “ take all possible precautions to protect civilians “.
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“ In Rafah, we evacuated a million residents who were not involved and, despite all efforts, a tragic accident occurred yesterday “, declared Benyamin Netanyahu on Monday. “ We are investigating what happened and we will draw conclusions “, he added. Sunday, Israeli airstrike causes fire in displaced persons camp from the south of the Gaza Strip, leading, according to the authorities of this territory, to the death of at least 45 people. Nearly 250 people were also injured, according to a statement from the Hamas health ministry.
Benyamin Netanyahu castigated the pressure, coming “ from home and abroad », exercised according to him against his government since the start of the war against the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Israel faced a wave of international condemnation on Monday over the Rafah strike, with the UN calling for an investigation.
“ They put pressure on us: “Don’t enter Gaza”, and we entered” ! “Do not enter Chifa“ (named after the largest hospital in the Palestinian territory, Editor’s note), and we entered ! “Do not enter Rafah!“ and we are back! », Launched the Israeli Prime Minister in front of families of hostages held in the Gaza Strip, who were installed in the area reserved for the public and booed him.
The White House says “ upset »
“ I’m not giving up and I won’t give up ! I resist national and international pressure “, he continued, echoing in particular the criticism of the Israeli opposition, some members of which are calling for his resignation. “ Nothing replaces absolute victory “, he insisted as he has been doing for several months.
The White House said: upset » by the images of the Israeli strike which occurred in Rafah which killed “ Innocent Palestinians ”, and called on Israel to “ take all precautions to protect civilians “. “ Israel has the right to attack Hamas, and we understand that this strike killed two high-ranking Hamas terrorists (…). But as we have made clear, Israel must take every possible precaution to protect civilians “, said a spokesperson for the White House National Security Council.
The United States is actively engaged with the Israeli army and our partners on the ground to understand what happened », added the spokesperson in the first official American reaction since the strike. He also noted that the Israeli army “ conducts an investigation “.