The Israeli military stated that the strike was aimed at a Hamas command-and-control center, but did not offer specific evidence to back up this claim.
An Israeli airstrike on Tuesday struck a densely populated area in Mawasi, near Khan Younis in Gaza, killing at least 40 people and injuring 60 more, according to Palestinian authorities, as reported by the AP news agency.
This area primarily shelters displaced Palestinians who fled from other parts of Gaza due to the ongoing conflict. The Israeli military stated that the strike was aimed at a Hamas command-and-control center, although they did not provide detailed evidence to support this claim. Hamas has denied these accusations, asserting that there were no militants present in the targeted area.
Footage from the scene reveals significant destruction, with large craters, debris strewn about, including shredded tents, and a bicycle. Rescue efforts have been difficult, with workers using shovels and their hands to dig through the wreckage, according to the AP.
This airstrike occurs against a backdrop of extensive destruction in Gaza, where the Israeli military has been carrying out operations following a major attack by Hamas in Israel on October 7 of last year.
Gaza’s Health Ministry reports that over 40,000 Palestinians have been killed since the conflict began, including both fighters and civilians. Hamas’s October 7 attack in Israel resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths, mostly civilians, with 250 people abducted. While some hostages have since been released, around 100 remain in captivity, with many feared dead.
In a related development, Philippe Lazzarini, head of the UN agency responsible for aiding displaced Palestinians, reported that a convoy was delayed by the Israeli military for over eight hours on Monday. The convoy was part of a polio vaccination campaign in northern Gaza, where the first polio case in 25 years was recently detected. Lazzarini mentioned on social platform X that Israeli bulldozers caused heavy damage to UN armored vehicles, and threats were made against UN staff during the delay.