At least 40 people were killed as a result of Israeli Strikes in Gaza, according to Hamas’ Civil Defence. Israeli airstrikes hit a humanitarian zone in southern Gaza. Dozens more got injured. Israel’s military said the strike targeted a Hamas operations center in Khan Younis, and they tried to reduce the risk to civilians.
Locals said the strikes hit tents where displaced people were staying in the al-Mawasi area, west of Khan Younis. The strikes left huge craters, some seven meters deep, and buried tents. An official from Hamas’ Civil Defence said more than 60 people were hurt, and some were still trapped under the rubble.
People nearby reported hearing big explosions just after midnight. Volunteers like Khaled Mahmoud rushed to help but were shocked by the destruction. He said the strikes buried over 20 tents. Unverified videos showed people digging through the sand to rescue others trapped in deep holes.
An Israeli military spokesperson said they were targeting Hamas terrorists operating in the area and took precautions to avoid civilian harm. They also accused Hamas of using civilian areas to launch attacks against Israel. But Hamas denied the claims, calling them false and saying they didn’t have fighters in the civilian zone.
Since Israel started its military operation in Gaza last October, many Palestinians have fled to Khan Younis for safety. The operation was launched after Hamas attacked southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing around 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. Since then, Gaza’s health ministry, run by Hamas, reported over 40,900 deaths.
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