Israel strikes Rafah as pressure mounts over war in Gaza: Live updates

An Israeli strike in Rafah that left dozens of civilians dead is “heartbreaking,” a National Security Council spokesperson said on Monday, adding the US was “actively engaging” with officials in Israel to determine what precisely happened.

“The devastating images following the IDF strike in Rafah last night that killed dozens of innocent Palestinians are heartbreaking,” the spokesperson, who went unnamed, said in a statement. “Israel has a right to go after Hamas, and we understand this strike killed two senior Hamas terrorists who are responsible for attacks against Israeli civilians,” the statement went on. “But as we’ve been clear, Israel must take every precaution possible to protect civilians.”

The official added that the US is actively engaged with Israel Defense Forces on the ground “to assess what happened, and understand that the IDF is conducting an investigation.”

Here’s what we know: At least 45 people were killed and 200 were wounded in an Israeli strike on a camp for displaced people in Rafah on Sunday, according to Gazan authorities. The Israeli military claimed it struck a Hamas compound in the area, killing two senior officials from the militant group.

Speaking following a visit to Israel last week, US national security adviser Jake Sullivan said he had detected “refinements” to Israel’s plan, which he said was now more “targeted and limited” in scale.

US President Joe Biden has said he would not provide heavy bombs to Israel in support of a Rafah operation, but has recently approved a $1 billion military aid package that includes tank ammunition and mortar rounds.