Israeli officials said the initial strike, which targeted the Hamas commander Muhammad Deif, hit the compound with at least five precision-guided missiles. The blast near the rescue workers was nearly 100 yards away from the entrance to the compound, suggesting a separate strike.

An aerial image of the first strike published by the Israeli military and analyzed by The Times indicates the resulting crater was close to 60 feet in diameter, indicative of a 2,000-pound bomb. President Biden has paused the delivery of these weapons to Israel since May over concerns about the civilian casualties they might cause.