An Israeli airstrike that may have killed dozens of Palestinians in a camp for displaced people near Rafah on Sunday was carried out with munitions made in the United States, according to an analysis of munition debris by weapons experts in The New York Times.
Video: IDF explains details of Rafah strike / X/@idf
The remnants found at the strike location were identified as parts of the GBU-39, a precision-guided bomb designed and built by American aerospace companies. Markings on the fragmented pieces matched the unique identifiers for Woodward, a Colorado-based firm that supplies components for the GBU-39 and other US munitions.
According to the Palestinians, at least 45 people were killed and over 240 injured in the bombing of the Kuwaiti Al-Salam Camp 1, which had been erected in early January to house Palestinians displaced by the ongoing conflict. Eyewitness footage showed raging fires engulfing the area after the strike. While Israeli military officials stated the strike targeted two Hamas leaders using "small warheads suited for this targeted strike," the use of the GBU-39 in the densely populated camp has raised concerns among international observers.
"When you use a weapon that's intended as precision and low collateral damage in an area where civilians are saturated, it really negates that intended use," Wes J. Bryant, a retired US Air Force master sergeant critical of Israel's weapons use in Gaza, told the times.
The GBU-39, with its 37-pound warhead, has been promoted by American officials as a preferred option for the Israeli military in Gaza due to its precision and reduced explosive yield compared to larger bombs. However, the civilian toll from Sunday's strike has reignited debates over the appropriateness of using such munitions in urban combat zones.
The targeted strike in Rafah, 1.7 km from the humanitarian area, used precise munitions carrying 34kg of explosives to eliminate 2 senior Hamas terrorists.
We are looking into the possibility of secondary explosions from a Hamas ammunition warehouse near the civilian compound… pic.twitter.com/DicBs9BVUd
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) May 28, 2024
"Secondary explosions can be hard to anticipate," Larry Lewis, a former Pentagon adviser on civilian harm, said. "But the decision to strike at that time raises questions about whether the Israeli military knew and accepted a possible civilian toll."
The IDF has yet to confirm the specific munition used in the attack but stated their investigation is ongoing. It suggested a secondary explosion may have ignited fires that caused additional casualties.
As the humanitarian crisis in Gaza deepens, the incident has renewed scrutiny over the procurement and deployment of American-made precision weapons in the conflict zone.
