In one of the deadliest attacks during the ongoing war, Israeli air raids overnight in central Gaza resulted in the deaths of more than 100 people. The strikes targeted the Maghazi and Bureij refugee camps, causing significant casualties and destruction. The Palestinian Ministry of Health reported that at least 70 people were killed in Maghazi, with the death toll expected to rise. Meanwhile, the number of casualties in Bureij increased to more than 100.
Health Ministry spokesperson Ashraf al-Qudra described the situation in Maghazi as a “massacre” taking place in a densely populated residential area. The Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital has been overwhelmed with bodies, while dozens more people have been reported injured. Families are desperately searching through the rubble in hopes of finding survivors. The bombing campaign has also destroyed homes, buildings, and infrastructure, including roads leading to and from the refugee camps.
Hani Mahmoud, reporting from southern Gaza, witnessed the destruction firsthand. He revealed that in the last 12 hours, approximately 100 people were killed, with the majority being women and children. Ahmad Turokmani, who lost several family members including his daughter and grandson, emphasized that there is no safe place in Gaza.
Tareq Abu Azzoum, reporting from Rafah, explained that the Maghazi camp was one of the areas the Israeli military had previously instructed Palestinians to evacuate to. However, it has now been completely flattened. Azzoum condemned the attack as a “genocide” and compared it to a similar assault on the Jabalia refugee camp last week, which claimed the lives of at least 90 people. Last month, the Maghazi camp was also targeted, resulting in the deaths of 50 Palestinians.
The healthcare system in Gaza is on the verge of collapse as hospitals, including the nearest one to the Maghazi camp, Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, have been severely impacted by the ongoing bombardment. Since October 7, Israel’s airstrikes have killed over 20,400 Palestinians and displaced more than 80% of the territory’s 2.3 million population. Tareq Abu Azzoum expressed concern that despite the recent UN Security Council resolution to boost aid to Gaza, the scale of the air raids has only intensified.
Hamas condemned the attack on the Maghazi camp as a “horrific massacre” and labeled it a “new war crime.” Israel’s military spokesperson’s office stated that they were investigating the reports of the attack. The situation in Gaza remains dire, with the healthcare system deteriorating and the promise of aid falling short in the face of the ongoing destruction caused by Israeli forces.
