The Israel Defence Forces has denied its involvement in a bombing on a camp in the Al-Mawasi area near Rafah city in which 21 died and dozens injured.  

In a statement, the IDF said that “contrary to the reports from the last few hours, the IDF did not strike in the humanitarian area in Al-Mawasi.”

The IDF also suggested that “a hidden store of weapons” may have been the actual cause of the deadly explosions on Tuesday.

Security sources in Rafah previously said that Israeli artillery bombed tents for the displaced in the Al-Mawasi area, which is a humanitarian zone where displaced Gazans take refuge based on the IDF’s order.

Local medical sources said the bombing led to the killing of at least 21 people, including women and children, and dozens of injuries.

Health authorities in Gaza said in a statement that about 64 people were injured in the bombing, including 10 in serious condition.

The incident came a day after Israel’s airstrike on tents housing displaced civilians in northwestern Rafah, which resulted in the deaths of at least 45 Palestinians and injuries to numerous others.

Addressing the Israeli lawmakers on Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Monday’s airstrike “something that unfortunately went tragically wrong” and promised to investigate the tragedy. 

(Xinhua/NAN)