RAFAH: 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.”

The US military has suspended aid deliveries into the Gaza Strip by sea, the Pentagon said, after its temporary pier was damaged by bad weather, AFP reports.

Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh told reporters high seas and a North African weather system had caused a section of the pier to come away.

“The rebuilding and repairing of the pier will take at least over a week, and, following completion, will need to be re-anchored to the coast of Gaza,” she said.

“Thus, upon completion of the pier repair and reassembly, the intention is to re-anchor the temporary pier to the coast of Gaza and resume humanitarian aid to the people who need it most.”

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned Israel’s deadly air strikes on Rafah in the Gaza Strip and called for the horror and suffering to stop immediately, his spokesperson said according to Reuters.

“The Israeli authorities must allow, facilitate and enable the immediate, safe and unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance to those in need and all crossing points must be open,” UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said.

US Vice President Kamala Harris has said that “the word tragic doesn’t even begin to describe” an Israeli airstrike that triggered a fire in a tent camp in the Gazan city of Rafah, killing 45 Palestinians, Reuters reports.