Israeli airstrikes on the al-Mawasi “humanitarian zone” in Gaza killed at least 19 people and injured 60 others, according to witnesses and medical officials. The strikes hit the densely populated area early Tuesday, causing tents to catch fire and leaving craters up to 9 meters deep. Many displaced Palestinians had moved to Mawasi after being told to go there by Israeli authorities. The area is home to hundreds of thousands of people facing harsh conditions.
Initially, first responders estimated the death toll at 40, but later reports from Gaza’s health ministry confirmed at least 19 fatalities, with expectations that the number could rise. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that they were targeting Hamas militants hiding in a command center within the area. The IDF claimed two senior Hamas figures, Samer Abu Daqqa and Osama Tabesh, who were involved in attacks on Israel, were among those targeted. Hamas denied the presence of its fighters in the area.
Rescue efforts continued into Tuesday morning as locals and rescue workers searched for missing people and evacuated the wounded. Ambulances rushed to and from the scene, while Israeli jets continued flying overhead.
Almost the entire population of Gaza, around 2.3 million people, has been displaced during the ongoing conflict, with many forced to move multiple times. Ninety percent of Gaza is now under evacuation orders. Despite being labeled a “safe zone,” Mawasi has been repeatedly hit by Israeli strikes. In July, a strike there killed at least 90 people. The IDF claimed to have killed a key Hamas commander, Mohammed Deif, in that attack, but Hamas has denied this.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the strikes, calling the use of heavy weapons in such populated areas “unconscionable.” Many Palestinians in Mawasi had moved there after being instructed by Israeli authorities to do so, seeking safety in a region that has now been repeatedly targeted.
The ongoing war between Israel and Hamas, which began after Hamas’s October 7 assault on southern Israel, has claimed around 41,000 lives in Gaza, according to local health officials. Despite efforts to mediate a ceasefire and negotiate hostage releases, talks have repeatedly stalled. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is under pressure to agree to a truce but has refused to withdraw Israeli forces from Gaza’s border with Egypt, a key demand of Hamas.
