At least 13 people were reported killed in an Israeli airstrike on a designated humanitarian zone in southern Gaza, according to a local hospital. The attack hit a camp for displaced Palestinians in the al-Mawasi area, southwest of Khan Younis, late at night, causing widespread devastation and craters up to 7 meters (23 feet) deep.
Devastation in al-Mawasi
Residents described horrific scenes in the aftermath of the airstrike. Witnesses said three missiles hit a crowded tent camp that houses hundreds of displaced families who were told by Israeli authorities to take refuge there for their own safety. The al-Mawasi area, already packed with people fleeing other parts of Gaza, has now become another tragic site in the ongoing conflict.
Witnesses reported hearing large explosions shortly after midnight, followed by flames shooting up into the night sky. “The attacks created three craters seven metres [23 feet] deep and buried more than 20 tents,” said Khaled Mahmoud, a charity volunteer who lives near the area. Mahmoud and other volunteers rushed to the scene to help, but were stunned by the scale of the devastation and chaos.
Conflicting reports on casualty count
An initial casualty report from the Hamas-run Civil Defence Authority indicated that more than 40 people were killed and more than 60 injured. It also warned that many more people could still be trapped under the rubble. However, the Israeli military challenged this figure and said the death toll was lower.
Later, an official at Khan Younis’s Nasser Hospital confirmed that 13 bodies were brought in after the attack. The exact number of casualties is still unclear, as the situation remains volatile and rescue operations continue in challenging conditions.
Israel’s justification for the attack
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) issued a statement taking responsibility for the airstrike, saying it had targeted “several senior Hamas militants” operating in the area. According to the IDF, the targeted individuals included Samir Abu Dakka, the head of Hamas’s aerial unit, and Osama Tabesh, responsible for the observation and targeting department in Hamas’ military intelligence. The IDF said that prior to the attack, extensive intelligence gathering and continuous aerial surveillance had confirmed the presence of these Hamas commanders and other operatives in the area.
The IDF accused Hamas of deploying its operatives and military assets in civilian areas, including designated humanitarian areas, effectively using civilians as human shields. The Israeli military stressed that the attack was “precise” and aimed only at eliminating prominent Hamas figures.
Hamas condemns attack as “genocide”
In response to the airstrike, Hamas condemned the Israeli military operation as a “heinous massacre”. A Hamas statement rejected the IDF’s claim that a command and control center existed in the al-Mawasi humanitarian zone, calling it a “blatant lie” and said it was intended to justify “heinous crimes” against civilians. Hamas has repeatedly denied allegations of using civilian areas for military purposes and insisted that no member of its organization was operating within civilian gatherings.
Context: Ongoing conflict and humanitarian crisis
The latest attack in al-Mawasi comes amid an ongoing conflict that erupted after Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on southern Israel on October 7. According to Israeli sources, about 1,200 people were killed in that attack and 251 others were taken hostage and taken back to Gaza. Since then Israel has launched a major military operation aimed at eliminating Hamas infrastructure in Gaza, causing widespread destruction and significant loss of life.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza has deteriorated rapidly. More than 40,980 people have been killed in Gaza since the conflict began, according to the territory’s Hamas-run health ministry. More than 1.9 million people, representing more than 80% of Gaza’s population, are believed to have been displaced, with many forced to flee multiple times as the conflict escalated.
Living conditions in al-Mawasi
The al-Mawasi area, once considered a relatively safe area for displaced Palestinians, has been flooded with people fleeing other conflict-torn areas of Gaza. With limited resources, al-Mawasi’s residents live in makeshift tents and crowded conditions, struggling with shortages of food, water and medical supplies. The latest airstrikes have added to the misery of an already suffering population.
After the attack, scenes of devastation were evident everywhere. Vehicles were buried under piles of sand, tents were torn to pieces, and people were seen desperately looking for their loved ones amid the rubble. Rescue teams and volunteers continued to dig through the rubble in hopes of finding survivors, but the chances were constantly diminishing.