An Israeli strike on a displacement camp in southern Gaza has resulted in the deaths of at least 90 Palestinians. The strike, which targeted Hamas' military chief Mohammed Deif, also left 300 people injured, with women and children accounting for half of the casualties.
The strike, which Israel said was aimed at Deif and the head of the Khan Younis brigade, has caused scenes of devastation in the area. Locals and rescue teams are working to unearth people trapped under the rubble, with hospitals struggling to cope with the influx of dead and injured civilians.
Witnesses described the chaos and destruction caused by the strike, with one resident recounting how missiles hit the area, resulting in the loss of lives of men, women, and children. Hamas has denied Israeli claims of targeting their leaders, calling the incident a 'horrific massacre.'
Analysis has revealed that US-made munitions, including a Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM), were used in the airstrike. The strike comes at a critical time in negotiations for a possible ceasefire and hostage release deal, with families of hostages held in Gaza urging for their safe return.
Israeli security and intelligence acted on recent intelligence to carry out the strike, with a focus on ensuring no hostages were present in the targeted area. Mohammed Deif, the Hamas military commander, has been a long-standing target of Israeli assassination attempts, with previous strikes resulting in the deaths of his family members.
Deif, known for his involvement in past attacks, has been a key figure in the conflict between Israel and Hamas. The International Criminal Court has sought arrest warrants for Deif and other senior Hamas figures for their alleged role in attacks that claimed the lives of around 1,200 Israelis.
Israel's campaign in Gaza, aimed at dismantling Hamas and securing the release of hostages, has led to a significant loss of life, with more than 38,000 people killed since the conflict escalated.
