At least 40 Palestinians were killed in Israeli airstrikes on a tent encampment designated as a humanitarian zone in Khan Younis, Gaza officials reported on Tuesday. The Israeli military stated that the attack targeted a Hamas command centre within the Al-Mawasi camp. Along with the 40 fatalities, 60 individuals were injured and taken to local hospitals.
The camp, situated in the al-Mawasi area, was hit by at least four missiles, according to residents and medics. Palestinian civilians who had fled from other parts of Gaza were residing in the crowded tents. The Gaza civil emergency service mentioned that 20 tents caught fire, and missiles created significant craters.
The IDF claimed that the airstrikes were aimed at Hamas terrorists operating within the camp, alleging that they had carried out attacks against Israeli troops. However, Hamas denied that their fighters were present at the scene, labeling the Israeli allegations as false.
The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas has resulted in the displacement of nearly all of Gaza’s population at least once, with hundreds of thousands seeking shelter in al-Mawasi. Despite minimal services in the area, the overcrowding has dissuaded some residents from evacuating despite evacuation orders from the IDF.
The war, which began last year, has led to a high number of casualties, with more than 40,900 Palestinians killed according to health officials in Gaza. Both sides have blamed each other for the failure to achieve a ceasefire and the release of hostages. The situation remains tense, with continuous airstrikes and ambulances shuttling the wounded to local hospitals.
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Photo credit www.theguardian.com
