In one of the deadliest attacks of the ongoing war, an Israeli air strike on the al-Maghazi refugee camp in central Gaza has left at least 70 people dead, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. The toll is expected to rise as more bodies are found in the rubble. The attack, described as a massacre by the ministry’s spokesman, Ashraf al-Qudra, targeted a densely-populated residential area. Many more people have been injured, and numerous houses have been destroyed.
The al-Maghazi camp, located in the middle of the Gaza Strip, was one of the places where the Israeli military had previously instructed Palestinians to evacuate. However, it has now been completely flattened, leaving the residents with no safe place to seek refuge. Ahmad Turokmani, who lost several family members including his daughter and grandson, expressed the despair felt by many in Gaza: “There is no safe place in Gaza anyway.”
Tareq Abu Azzoum, reporting from Rafah in southern Gaza, highlighted the severity of the situation, stating that the majority of the casualties were civilians, including a two-week-old baby who was killed in what he described as a genocide. He drew a comparison to a similar attack on the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza, where at least 90 people were killed just last week. This is not the first time the al-Maghazi camp has been targeted, as it was also attacked last month resulting in the deaths of 50 Palestinians.
The surrounding areas of the camp have been subjected to intense Israeli shelling in recent days, causing further devastation. The nearest hospital, Al-Aqsa Hospital, is struggling to cope with the influx of patients as health facilities across Gaza have been rendered non-functional due to the ongoing bombardment by Israel. The situation in Gaza has deteriorated significantly since October 7, with over 20,400 Palestinians killed and 80% of the population displaced.
Hamas has condemned the air attack on the al-Maghazi camp as a “horrific massacre” and labeled it a new war crime. Israel’s military spokesperson’s office has stated that it is investigating the reports of the attack.
The ongoing violence in Gaza continues to draw international attention and raises concerns about the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the region. The article sheds light on the devastating impact of the Israeli air strike on innocent civilians and the urgent need for a resolution to the conflict.
