Israeli Strike on Gaza Humanitarian Zone Kills at Least 40, Including Children
At least 40 people, including many children, were killed in an Israeli airstrike on a designated humanitarian zone in southern Gaza overnight, CNN reports, citing local rescue officials.
The strike, which injured over 60 others, targeted a densely populated area in Al-Mawasi, near Khan Younis, where tens of thousands of displaced Palestinians had sought refuge.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) claimed the strike targeted a Hamas command-and-control center located within the humanitarian zone. Hamas denied the presence of any fighters in the area and denounced the attack as a “heinous crime” targeting unarmed civilians.
Gaza Civil Defense officials reported “great difficulty” in rescuing victims buried under sand and debris due to limited resources and lack of lighting. Eyewitnesses and social media footage, which CNN was unable to independently verify, showed rescue crews digging through the rubble, with scattered clothing and shoes indicating the scale of the devastation.
“Entire families have disappeared in the sand,” said Mahmoud Bassal, a Gaza Civil Defense spokesperson, adding that 20 to 40 tents housing displaced families were destroyed in the strike.
While the IDF stated it took steps to minimize civilian casualties, including precise munitions and aerial surveillance, they did not confirm whether they had warned civilians in the area. Gaza Civil Defense officials stated that no warning was given prior to the attack.
The strike comes amidst an ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, which has seen widespread destruction and civilian casualties on both sides. The incident has raised serious concerns about the safety of humanitarian zones and the protection of civilians caught in the crossfire.
The international community has condemned the attack and called for an immediate ceasefire. Human rights organizations have voiced alarm at the escalating violence and the growing number of civilian casualties in the conflict.
