An airstrike that killed 86 people at a Gaza refugee camp was a “regrettable mistake”, an Israeli government spokesperson has admitted.
Eylon Levy told Sky News the incident at the Maghazi site on Christmas Eve was down to the use of an “incorrect munition” and “should not have happened”.
But he refused to apologise for the loss of life, despite being pressed several times by presenter Niall Paterson.
“We will not apologise for waging this campaign to bring the Hamas terror regime to justice,” he said.
Israel-Hamas war – follow latest updates
Mr Levy was confirming Israeli media reports that the Israel Defence Forces had admitted using the wrong munition, but said he did not know what type was used.
He said “any civilian deaths are regrettable”, but stressed that in war it is “inevitable that mistakes will be made”.
Mr Levy reiterated that Israel’s war against Hamas would continue until the regime surrenders and releases the remaining hostages its militants took during its attack on 7 October.
Should Hamas surrender, the war could “end tomorrow”.
Read more:
Inside Hamas’s tunnel network
Israeli troops ’round-up half-naked men’
IDF to ‘learn lessons’ from one of war’s bloodiest strikes
The strike on the Maghazi camp was one of the bloodiest of the conflict so far.
Footage taken by a Sky News team of the aftermath showed massive destruction, bodies dragged from beneath the rubble and the shrapnel-scarred faces of children in hospital.
Many of the dead included women and children.
The total number of people killed was reported by the UN, which Mr Levy has accused of “funnelling” civilians into “Hamas strongholds” rather than areas Israel has designated as safe.
Israel has accused Hamas of using schools and hospitals to hide behind civilians – putting them in harm’s way.
But the Maghazi strike, which the IDF has pledged to “learn lessons” from, has added to criticism of Israel’s conduct.
The UN and human rights groups have said civilians are not being adequately protected, with Hamas health officials claiming more than 21,100 people have been killed in Gaza since the war began.
Even in areas where Israel has told Gazans to move to for safety, attacks are taking place.
Mr Levy insisted the Maghazi strike was an “exception” to the rule Israel does everything possible to protect civilians.
“We want civilians to go to areas where they can be protected, we do not want them inside Hamas strongholds” he added.