In the early hours of Tuesday, an Israeli airstrike on a crowded tent camp in the Muwasi humanitarian zone in Gaza resulted in at least 19 casualties and 60 injuries, according to Palestinian officials.
The tent camp was housing Palestinians displaced by the nearly year-long Israel-Hamas conflict.
The Israeli military claimed the strike targeted senior Hamas militants using precision weapons. However, Palestinian Health Ministry officials, part of the Hamas-run government, confirmed the fatalities, and rescue operations are ongoing. Eyewitnesses described scenes of devastation, with first responders digging through sand and rubble to recover bodies.
The strike has drawn widespread condemnation, with many, including survivors, questioning the safety of designated humanitarian zones. Iyad Hamed Madi, a displaced resident, expressed frustration, saying, “We were told to go to Muwasi, the safe area… Look around you and see this safe place.”
Israel’s military spokesperson, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, disputed casualty numbers, asserting that their intelligence and weapons accuracy suggest a lower toll. Hamas has denied the presence of militants in the camp, branding Israel’s claim a “blatant lie.”
Over 41,000 Palestinians have died since the conflict began, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. Despite international calls for a cease-fire, the violence shows little sign of abating.
