In a significant escalation of the ongoing conflict, Israeli forces launched a devastating airstrike on a refugee camp in the Al-Mawasi humanitarian zone near Khan Yunis, Gaza Strip, on September 9, 2024. The attack has resulted in at least 40 deaths and 60 injuries, with many 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 Jan 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 Bsal, spokesperson for the Palestinian Defense Ministry in Gaza, stated that ‘entire families’ have disappeared under the sand, and rescue efforts are severely hampered by the extent of the damage.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 refugee camp in Gaza’s humanitarian zone killed at least 40 and injured 60.
- IDF claims the strike targeted a Hamas command center, while Palestinian sources describe it as a civilian massacre.
- The attack has raised serious concerns about the ongoing humanitarian crisis and potential war crimes in Gaza.
- The conflict has resulted in over 40,900 Palestinian deaths since October 7, 2023, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health.
Contradictions👾The IDF claims to have taken measures to minimize civilian casualties, while Palestinian sources report widespread destruction and civilian deaths in a humanitarian zone.
👾Israel states the target was a Hamas command center, while Palestinian authorities insist it was a civilian refugee camp.
