KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip. Israel claimed to have targeted Hamas’ elusive military commander, resulting in at least 90 fatalities, including children, according to local health officials in a massive strike on Saturday. The strike occurred in the densely populated southern Gaza Strip, an area designated as a safe zone by Israel for hundreds of thousands of Palestinians.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated, “there still isn’t absolute certainty” that Mohammed Deif, Hamas’ military commander, and another commander, Rafa Salama, were among the dead. Hamas dismissed the claims, stating, “these false claims are merely a cover-up for the scale of the horrific massacre.”
The Gaza Health Ministry reported 90 deaths and over 300 injuries. Journalists from the Associated Press counted more than 40 bodies at the overwhelmed Nasser Hospital. Witnesses described multiple strikes in the attack.
“A number of victims are still under the rubble and on the roads, and ambulance and civil defense crews are unable to reach them,” the Health Ministry reported.
Israel’s military asserted that “additional terrorists hid among civilians,” and an Israeli official described the strike as precise, targeting a fenced area in Khan Younis run by Hamas. The location was said to be surrounded by trees and several buildings, with the compound belonging to Salama.
Footage of the aftermath showed a massive crater, charred tents, and burnt-out cars. Victims were transported on the hoods and hatchbacks of cars, on donkey carts, and on carpets. At the hospital, scenes of chaos unfolded, with a baby in a pink shirt crying while receiving first aid, and a small boy lying motionless with one shoe gone.
Louise Wateridge, a spokesperson with the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, described “the overwhelming stench of blood” and noted the hospital had no cleaning products left. She recounted that a 2-year-old child was thrown into the air by the blast, with the mother missing. Another boy lost his feet, and an 8-year-old boy was killed. “They told me to go there to be safe,” the grieving mother of the area struck told her.
Neighboring Egypt, mediating cease-fire talks, condemned the strike. “These ongoing violations against Palestinian citizens add serious complications to the ability of the efforts currently being made to reach calm and a cease-fire,” its Foreign Ministry said in a statement, criticizing the “shameful silence and lack of action from the international community.”
Egyptian, Qatari, and U.S. mediators are working to narrow gaps between Israel and Hamas over a proposed cease-fire and hostage release plan. The U.S.-backed proposal includes an initial cease-fire with a limited hostage release, followed by negotiations for a full hostage release and permanent cease-fire.
Netanyahu reiterated Israel’s conditions for any cease-fire, including the continuation of military operations until its goals are achieved, the return of hostages in the deal’s first stage, no return of Hamas fighters to northern Gaza, and the prevention of arms smuggling.
Israel’s campaign in Gaza began after Hamas’ October 7 attack, in which militants stormed into southern Israel, killing about 1,200 people and abducting approximately 250. Since then, Israeli ground offensives and bombardments have resulted in over 38,400 deaths and 88,000 injuries in Gaza, according to the territory’s Health Ministry.
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.
