RAFAH, Gaza Strip — Late Sunday, dozens of people were killed in Rafah, a city in southern Gaza, following an Israeli airstrike on an area where displaced civilians were sheltering in tents. The strike ignited a fire that swept through the camp, local officials reported.

Images and videos shared on social media depicted the area engulfed in flames, with Palestinians fleeing in panic. Some of the footage showed severely burned corpses and a man holding what appeared to be the headless body of a small child, evoking widespread horror and condemnation.

The strike drew condemnation from world leaders just days after the United Nations' top court ordered Israel to halt its offensive on the southern Gaza city, where over a million people had sought refuge. In an address to the Knesset on Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the strike as “a tragic incident," with his office clarifying that his comments in Hebrew could be translated as either “a tragic mishap” or “a tragic mistake.”

“We are investigating the case and will draw conclusions because this is our policy," Netanyahu stated.

As global outcry mounted, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) initially stated that they had targeted two senior Hamas leaders and had not struck a designated humanitarian area. The IDF claimed to have taken measures to minimize the risk to civilians and announced a full investigation into the "deaths of civilians in the area of the strike."

Qatar warned that the airstrike could hinder efforts to reach a cease-fire deal, which had been renewed in Europe over the weekend. Adding to the tensions, Egypt's military reported that one of its soldiers was killed in a firefight with Israeli forces at the Rafah border area. The IDF confirmed that “a shooting incident occurred on the Egyptian border” and said the incident was under review with discussions ongoing with the Egyptians.

The Gaza Health Ministry reported that at least 35 people were killed in the Tal al-Sultan neighborhood, most of them women and children. First responders warned that the number of casualties could rise, as many people were trapped in the flames that erupted after the bombardment. By Monday, the death toll had risen to at least 45 people.

"This massacre is the largest in the city of Rafah in months," Muhammad Al-Mughir, the spokesman for the Palestinian Civil Defense in Rafah, told NBC News. He emphasized that the area was a designated "humanitarian area" next to U.N. warehouses.

Samuel Johann, the emergency coordinator in Gaza for Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders), said Sunday’s strike occurred just under a mile from one of its stabilization points for trauma patients. The facility received dozens of injured people, with at least 28 already dead and 180 arriving injured.

One family recounted their harrowing escape after the apartment building they were sheltering in was affected. "Suddenly, windows shattered," Hala Siam told NBC News. "The children got scared. We all went out to the street." Siam expressed disbelief that the area, deemed safe, was struck. "There is no safe place in Rafah," she said.

The IDF stated that its strike targeted two Hamas leaders responsible for organizing terrorist attacks in the occupied West Bank. The IDF acknowledged reports of civilian tents being ignited in the strike and indicated the incident was under review. They claimed the airstrike was based on prior intelligence about the presence of senior Hamas terrorists at the site and insisted steps were taken to minimize harm to civilians.

In a subsequent statement, the IDF expressed regret for any civilian casualties, stating, "The IDF regrets any harm to uninvolved civilians during combat."

Hamas condemned the strike as a horrific “massacre” but did not confirm the death of the commander or the senior leader. Earlier on Sunday, Hamas’ military wing announced a missile barrage into Israel targeting Tel Aviv, the first such attack in weeks. The IDF reported that eight projectiles were identified crossing from Rafah into Israeli territory, with several intercepted.

As outrage over the Rafah attack grew, mediators Qatar and Egypt condemned the strike as a violation of international law. Qatar, a key broker in talks with Hamas, warned that it could imperil efforts toward a new hostage deal. Following weekend talks involving CIA Director William Burns in Paris, an Israeli official told NBC News the Israeli government was hopeful that negotiations might resume this week.

French President Emmanuel Macron expressed his outrage over the Israeli strikes, which he said had killed many displaced persons in Rafah, stating, "These operations must stop." Josep Borrell, the European Union's foreign policy chief, also condemned the strike, saying he was "horrified."

A spokesperson for the U.S. National Security Council described the images from Rafah as heartbreaking. “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. But as we’ve been clear, Israel must take every precaution possible to protect civilians,” the spokesperson said. “We are actively engaging the IDF and partners on the ground to assess what happened and understand that the IDF is conducting an investigation.”

In a briefing ahead of the International Court of Justice ruling, U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan said Israel's military operations appeared to have been "more targeted and limited." President Joe Biden had warned that he could suspend the shipment of certain weapons over any full-scale assault on Rafah.

Netanyahu has faced increasing scrutiny over how Israel is conducting the war, which began after the Hamas-led attack on Oct. 7. About 1,200 people were killed, and 250 others were taken hostage, officials said, with 125 believed to remain captive in Gaza and around a quarter presumed dead. More than 35,000 people have been killed in Gaza over seven months of war, according to local health authorities. Aid groups have warned of catastrophic conditions for civilians, who lack access to food and clean water, risking a possible famine in parts of the enclave.

The ongoing conflict has drawn sharp criticism from international humanitarian organizations and has heightened tensions across the region. As global leaders call for a ceasefire and immediate humanitarian relief, the situation remains dire for those trapped in the conflict zones. Efforts to broker peace and provide aid are critical to preventing further loss of life and alleviating the suffering of civilians in Gaza.