Gaza: An Israeli airstrike in a designated humanitarian zone in Gaza on Saturday resulted in the death of at least 71 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s health ministry. The attack, purportedly aimed at Hamas’ military chief Mohammed Deif, drew swift denials from Hamas, labeling Israeli claims as false and aimed at justifying the assault.
The Israeli military stated that the strike targeting Deif also aimed at Rafa Salama, commander of Hamas’ Khan Younis Brigade, both identified as key figures behind the October 7 attack that sparked a nine-month conflict in Gaza. Mohammed Deif, on Israel’s most wanted list for decades, has survived seven previous assassination attempts, the latest in 2021, and has been held responsible for numerous Israeli casualties in suicide bombings.
The Gaza health ministry confirmed the death toll of at least 71 Palestinians and reported 289 injuries, marking one of the deadliest incidents in recent weeks. The strike occurred in Al-Mawasi, a humanitarian area where the Israeli army had previously urged Palestinians to seek refuge after evacuation orders were issued for other zones.
The Israeli military released an aerial photograph of the strike site, alleging that “terrorists hid among civilians.” They described the location as an open area surrounded by trees, several buildings, and sheds. An Israeli military official, speaking in an online briefing, clarified that the area was not merely a tent complex but an operational Hamas compound, where additional militants were present, guarding Deif.
As of now, it remains uncertain whether Mohammed Deif was killed. “We are still assessing and verifying the strike’s outcomes,” stated the military official.
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Following the strike, many of the wounded were transported to Nasser Hospital nearby, which struggled to cope due to the intensity of the Israeli offensive and severe shortages of medical supplies, according to hospital officials.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant convened special consultations in response to the “developments in Gaza,” his office reported, although the impact of the strike on ceasefire negotiations underway in Doha and Cairo remained unclear.
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In response, Hamas-run media reported over 100 casualties, including members of the Civil Emergency Service, but did not confirm Deif’s presence. A senior Hamas official dismissed Israeli claims as “nonsense,” describing the casualties as civilians and condemning the strike as a severe escalation of what he termed a “war of genocide”, allegedly backed by American support amidst global silence.
Separately, Palestinian health officials reported at least 10 deaths in an Israeli attack on a prayer hall within a Gaza displaced persons’ camp west of Gaza City.
