An Israeli airstrike on a tent camp in Gaza has left at least 19 people dead and 60 wounded, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. The camp was in a designated humanitarian zone and local officials report that four missiles struck the area. Israel claims it targeted Hamas militants and tried to avoid harming civilians, while Hamas denies any militants were in the vicinity.
In a separate incident, the Israeli military admitted that an American activist, Aysenur Ezgi Eygi, was likely shot “indirectly and unintentionally” by soldiers while protesting against settlements in the West Bank. The military expressed regret for Eygi’s death and said a criminal investigation has been launched. However, both US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Eygi’s family criticized the Israeli inquiry.
Blinken stated that no one should be shot while attending a protest and called for changes in the way Israeli security forces operate in the West Bank. Eygi’s family released a statement expressing deep offense at the suggestion that her killing was unintentional, calling the disregard for human life in the inquiry appalling.
The death toll from the Gaza airstrike is expected to rise as first responders continue to search for people under the rubble. Both incidents have raised concerns about civilian casualties in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine.
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