An Israeli strike early Tuesday in the Gaza Strip resulted in at least 40 people killed and 60 wounded, according to local news agency WAFA. The attack left craters up to 10 meters deep in a humanitarian area of the region.
Gaza's Health Ministry reported that over 40,000 Palestinians have lost their lives since the Israel-Hamas conflict began. The ministry's count does not differentiate between fighters and civilians. The war has led to extensive destruction and the displacement of around 90% of Gaza's population of 2.3 million, many of whom have been displaced multiple times.
Hamas-led militants were responsible for the deaths of approximately 1,200 individuals, mostly civilians, in an attack on October 7. They also abducted 250 people, with around 100 still being held captive. A third of the remaining hostages are believed to have died.
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The Israeli military conducted a missile strike targeting a humanitarian area in the Mawasi coastal community near Khan Younis. The area, designated as a humanitarian zone, is home to many Palestinians displaced by the conflict.
Footage shared on social media depicted the aftermath of the strike, showing deep craters, destroyed tents, and debris scattered around the site. Rescue workers and bystanders were seen sifting through the rubble in search of survivors.
The Israeli military claimed the strike targeted 'significant Hamas terrorists' within a command-and-control center, while Hamas refuted this assertion as a lie. Israel has long accused militants of using civilian areas as cover.
Additionally, the United Nations agency responsible for aid to displaced Palestinians reported that an aid convoy was halted by the Israeli military for over eight hours on Monday. The convoy, which was coordinating with Israeli troops, was attempting to carry out a polio vaccination campaign in northern Gaza and Gaza City.
The vaccination drive was initiated following the discovery of the first polio case in Gaza in 25 years. The campaign aims to vaccinate 640,000 children amidst the destruction of the region's healthcare system due to the ongoing conflict.
