By On Tuesday, an Israeli airstrike targeted the Al Mawasi humanitarian zone in Gaza’s southern Khan Yunis province, resulting in the deaths of at least 40 people, according to the Palestinian Civil Defence Agency. This area, which had been designated as a safe zone by Israeli authorities for tens of thousands of displaced Palestinians, was hit early in the morning. The strike also left approximately 60 people wounded and efforts were underway to recover 15 missing individuals.
The Israeli military initially identified Al Mawasi as a safe zone but later claimed that the strike was aimed at a “Hamas command centre” embedded within the humanitarian area. This claim was met with skepticism from local officials and humanitarian workers. Mohammed al-Mughair of the Civil Defence reported that the attack caused three deep craters and left entire families buried under the sand. Survivors scrambled to salvage belongings from the debris, and there were no warnings or evacuation orders before the strike.
The Israeli military defended the action, asserting that it targeted significant Hamas operatives who were allegedly using the humanitarian zone for military purposes. They contested the casualty figures reported by Gaza authorities, suggesting discrepancies and arguing that the individuals killed were involved in the October 7 massacre that triggered the ongoing conflict. Hamas has denied the Israeli military’s assertions, labeling them as false.
International reactions to the strike have been sharp. UN envoy Tor Wennesland condemned the attack, highlighting that international humanitarian law mandates protection for civilians and should be upheld at all times. Wennesland stressed that civilians must never be used as human shields.
Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant remarked that the focus of Israeli forces will soon shift to the northern border with Lebanon, as they are approaching the end of their military objectives in Gaza. Gallant noted that while the current mission in Gaza nears completion, attention would turn to the ongoing exchanges of fire with Hezbollah in Lebanon. He also acknowledged that a potential truce and prisoner exchange could present Israel with a strategic opportunity to address other security challenges while claiming that Hamas as a military entity has been significantly weakened.
Efforts by Egypt, Qatar, and the US to broker a ceasefire have been ongoing, with a focus on securing the release of prisoners held by Palestinians in exchange for a pause in Israel’s offensive operations.
