Israel has carried out huge airstrikes on a chosen “protected zone” in southern Gaza, with over 70 reported killed and almost 300 wounded
The Israel Protection Forces (IDF) mentioned on Saturday that it carried out an airstrike on “two senior Hamas terrorists and extra terrorists,” who had allegedly been hiding amongst civilians in southern Gaza.
The assault was focused on al-Mawasi, a coastal space adjoining to town of Khan Younis, which the IDF had beforehand designated as a “protected zone” for displaced individuals. The strike inflicted heavy civilian casualties, with at the very least 71 killed and almost 300 injured, based on Gaza’s well being ministry. The tally is predicted to turn out to be even better, with many our bodies nonetheless not recovered.
“There are nonetheless many our bodies of martyrs scattered within the streets, below the rubble, and across the tents of the displaced that can’t be reached as a result of heavy shelling of the [Israeli military] that focused locations and tents within the al-Mawasi,” civil protection spokesman Mahmud Bassal advised AFP.
The IDF mentioned the “location of the strike was an open space surrounded by bushes, a number of buildings, and sheds,” sharing aerial images of the compound earlier than and after the assault. Based on media studies citing eyewitnesses, the strike got here in a number of waves, with a number of fighter jets and drones concerned.
In a joint IDF and ISA exercise based mostly on exact intelligence, the IDF’s Southern Command and the IAF carried out a strike in an space the place two senior Hamas terrorists and extra terrorists hid amongst civilians. The situation of the strike was an open space surrounded by bushes,… pic.twitter.com/1MEJYHHwm7
— Israel Protection Forces (@IDF) July 13, 2024
Whereas the IDF didn’t formally identify the high-profile targets of the strike, media studies citing unnamed Israeli officers instructed the army was looking for the top Hamas’ army wing Mohammed Deif, in addition to one other senior commander. The Palestinian group disputed the claims, dismissing them as an try and “cover-up” one more “horrific bloodbath” by the Israeli army.
“It’s not the primary time Israel claims to focus on Palestinian leaders, solely to be confirmed false later,” Hamas mentioned in an announcement.
The battle in Gaza broke out within the aftermath of the October 7 shock assault on southern Israel, launched by Hamas. The militant group took over 200 Israeli hostages within the assault, with one other 1,200 Israelis being killed.
West Jerusalem responded with a heavy aerial and artillery bombing marketing campaign in opposition to the Palestinian enclave, in addition to a string of floor operations. The hostilities induced widespread destruction in densely populated Gaza, with over 38,000 Palestinians killed and almost 90,000 wounded, based on native well being authorities.
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