Hamas has strongly denied claims that its fighters were present during an Israeli strike on a humanitarian zone in southern Gaza. According to Gaza’s civil defense agency, the attack on Al-Mawasi in Khan Yunis, a designated safe zone, resulted in the deaths of 40 people and injuries to 60 others. The area was home to tens of thousands of displaced Palestinians.
The Israeli military stated that its strike targeted a Hamas command center embedded within the humanitarian zone. They claimed that Hamas was using civilian infrastructure to conduct operations against Israel.
Civil defense official Mohammed Al-Mughair reported that 40 fatalities and 60 injuries were recovered and taken to nearby hospitals. Efforts are ongoing to find 15 people still missing. Mahmoud Basal, a civil defense spokesman, criticized the lack of prior warning and noted that the strike caused significant damage to the camp, with numerous tents destroyed and deep craters left behind.
Hamas has dismissed the Israeli claims as false, asserting that no fighters were at the location of the strike. The conflict has led to substantial casualties on both sides, with Israel’s retaliatory actions in Gaza resulting in extensive loss of life and displacement.
