On September 9, 2024, Israeli forces launched a devastating airstrike on a tent camp for displaced Palestinians in the Al-Mawasi humanitarian zone near Khan Yunis, Gaza Strip. The attack has resulted in at least 40 deaths and 60 injuries, with 15 people still missing, according to Palestinian Civil Defense sources.The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) claim the strike targeted a Hamas command and control center, stating that ‘fighter jets under the direction of the Shin Bet, AMAN, and the Southern Command attacked terrorists from the Hamas organization who were operating in a hidden command and control complex in the humanitarian zone of Khan Yunis’. The IDF asserts that they took measures to minimize civilian casualties, including the use of precision-guided munitions and aerial surveillance.However, Palestinian sources and eyewitnesses paint a drastically different picture. The attack reportedly hit a gathering of at least 20 tents in a densely populated area, leaving 9-meter deep craters and causing widespread destruction. Mahmoud Basal, spokesperson for the Palestinian Civil Defense in Gaza, stated that ‘entire families have disappeared under the sand’ in what he described as the ‘Mawasi-Khan Yunis massacre’.Rescue efforts are severely hampered by the extent of the damage, lack of electricity, and limited resources. Civil defense teams are struggling to reach the dead and injured, with bodies scattered around the area and buried in deep craters.This incident has sparked international outrage and raised serious concerns about the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The attack on a designated humanitarian zone, which was meant to provide safety for displaced civilians, has been widely condemned as a potential war crime.The conflict, which began with Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023, has now lasted for 11 months, resulting in the deaths of over 40,900 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health. The latest attack underscores the urgent need for a ceasefire and a diplomatic solution to the ongoing crisis.
Key points
- Israeli airstrike on a humanitarian zone in Gaza killed at least 40 and injured 60.
- Israel claims to have targeted a Hamas command center, but Hamas denies any presence in the area.
- The attack caused widespread destruction, including 9-meter deep craters and fires in at least 20 tents.
- Rescue efforts are severely hampered by damage extent and lack of resources.
- The incident has sparked international outrage and concerns about potential war crimes.
Contradictions👾The Israeli military claims to have taken measures to minimize civilian casualties, but the extent of destruction and high civilian death toll contradict this assertion.
👾Hamas denies the presence of its fighters in the humanitarian zone, while Israel insists it targeted a Hamas command center.
