US says latest Rafah deaths won't change Israel policy or military aid

The US doesn't have "a measuring stick here or a quota," Kirby said.

Displaced Palestinians inspect their tents destroyed by Israel's bombardment. Picture: AP

The United States has said it was closely monitoring the probe into a deadly Israeli airstrike it called tragic, but that the recent deaths in Rafah didn't constitute a major ground operation there that crosses any US red lines.

"The Israelis have said this is a tragic mistake," National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters at the White House, when asked about whether the events over the weekend qualified as the type of "death and destruction"