The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced that it is investigating an airstrike that resulted in the deaths of dozens of people in Rafah. According to Gazan authorities, the strike on Sunday killed at least 45 people and wounded 200 others. The IDF’s General Staff’s Fact-Finding and Assessment Mechanism, an independent body that examines allegations of misconduct during conflicts, has been tasked with this investigation by Military Advocate General Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi.
The IDF stated that the airstrike was based on intelligence suggesting that senior Hamas officials from its West Bank wing were at the location. The IDF had assessed that there would be no civilian casualties in the strike.
Separately, the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) expressed concerns about the safety of Palestinians with disabilities in Gaza. The committee highlighted that these individuals face greater danger due to limited mobility and the destruction of infrastructure. It cited the case of a 14-year-old girl with cerebral palsy who had to be carried by her parents while fleeing. The CRPD called for an immediate ceasefire and urged adherence to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which mandates protection for people with disabilities in conflict situations.