The United States said it was “deeply saddened” after an Israeli attack in Rafah left 45 people dead as a blaze tore through a camp for displaced people, AFP reports.

“We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of life in Rafah over the weekend,” State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters.

The Israeli military “has promised that its investigation will be swift, comprehensive and transparent. We will be watching those results closely,” he said.

“We will continue to emphasise to Israel their obligation to comply fully with international humanitarian law, minimise the impact of their operations on civilians and maximise the flow of humanitarian assistance to those in need.”

Miller told reporters that Israel’s preliminary investigation suggested that “the strike was carried out using the smallest bomb in their arsenal, targeting terrorists 1.7 kilometres away from the Al-Mawasi area where this fire took place.”