GAZA/JERUSALEM. An Israeli airstrike in Gaza on Saturday killed at least 71 Palestinians, including in a designated humanitarian zone, according to Gaza’s health ministry. Israel stated that the attack targeted Hamas’ military chief, Mohammed Deif, and Rafa Salama, the commander of Hamas’ Khan Younis Brigade.
Hamas, however, denied these claims, calling them false and a justification for the attack. In a statement, Hamas said, “All the martyrs are civilians and what happened was a grave escalation of the war of genocide, backed by the American support and world silence.”
The Israeli military described Deif and Salama as key figures behind the October 7 attack that triggered the nine-month-long conflict in Gaza. Deif, who has survived seven previous assassination attempts, has been on Israel’s most wanted list for decades, held responsible for numerous suicide bombings resulting in the deaths of dozens of Israelis.
The strike’s impact was severe, with at least 289 people injured. The Gaza health ministry reported this as the deadliest toll in weeks. The attack occurred in Al-Mawasi, a designated humanitarian area where the Israeli army had previously urged Palestinians to move to follow evacuation orders from other regions.
The Israeli military released an aerial photograph of the strike site, which Reuters could not immediately verify. The military claimed that “terrorists hid among civilians” in the targeted location, which was described as an open area surrounded by trees, buildings, and sheds.
A military official, speaking in an online briefing, stated that the strike site was not a tent complex but an operational compound managed by Hamas. The official added, “We are still checking and verifying the results of the strike,” leaving Deif’s fate uncertain.
The nearby Nasser Hospital received many of the wounded. Hospital officials reported that the facility was overwhelmed and “no longer able to function” due to the scale of the offensive and a severe shortage of medical supplies.
In response to the attack, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant held special consultations, his office confirmed, in light of the “developments in Gaza.” The impact of the strike on ongoing ceasefire talks in Doha and Cairo remains unclear.
The Hamas-run media office reported that at least 100 people were killed and wounded, including members of the Civil Emergency Service. Sami Abu Zuhri, a senior Hamas official, dismissed Israeli allegations as “nonsense,” stressing that “Israel is not interested in reaching a ceasefire deal.”
Additionally, Palestinian health officials reported that an Israeli attack on a prayer hall at a Gaza camp for displaced people west of Gaza City resulted in at least ten more deaths.
This incident marks a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict, raising concerns about the humanitarian situation and the prospects for peace in the region.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
