World News | Israeli Army Says It Used Small Munitions in Rafah Airstrike, and Fire Was Caused by Secondary Blast

Deir al-Balah (Gaza Strip), May 28 (AP) The Israeli military says an initial investigation into a strike that sparked a deadly fire in the southern Gaza city of Rafah has found the blaze was caused by a secondary explosion.

Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, the chief military spokesman, said Tuesday that the military fired two 17-kg (37-pound) munitions that targeted two senior Hamas militants. He says the munitions would have been too small to ignite a fire on their own.

Also Read | Pakistan Road Accident: Eight Members of Family Killed After Jeep Falls Into Deep Ravine in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Hagari said the army is looking into the possibility that weapons were stored in the area.

Palestinian health officials say at least 45 people, around half of them women and children, were killed in Sunday's strike. The fire also could have ignited fuel, cooking gas canisters or other materials in the densely populated tent camp housing displaced people.

Also Read | Papua New Guinea Landslide: India Announces Aide of USD 1 Million for Landslide-Hit Nation.

The strike caused widespread outrage, including from some of Israel's closest allies. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said it was the result of a “tragic mishap”. (AP)

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)