Netanyahu calls civilian deaths in Rafah a 'tragic mishap'

Tel Aviv, May 28 (IANS) Amid growing international condemnation, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that the strike which killed scores of displaced Palestinians in Rafah on Sunday was a “tragic mishap”.

At least 45 people were killed and hundreds of others injured in the Israeli strike, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.

Speaking in the Israeli parliament on Monday, Netanyahu said it was vital that Israel took “every precaution possible” to protect civilians caught up in the fighting in Gaza, the BBC reported.

But he insisted the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) used their “best efforts not to harm those uninvolved” in the conflict and vowed to keep fighting against Hamas.

“I don’t intend to end the war before every goal has been achieved,” Netanyahu said during his address.

“In Rafah, we already evacuated about one million non-combatant residents and despite our utmost effort not to harm non-combatants, something unfortunately went tragically wrong,” he said, adding “We are investigating the incident”.

–IANS

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