A deadly Israeli strike on a crowded tent camp in Gaza killed at least 40 people and wounded 60 others, with Israeli claiming they targeted Hamas militants while Palestinians deny this. The strike occurred in Mawasi, a humanitarian zone for displaced civilians in the Israel-Hamas war. The Civil Defense recovered 40 bodies from the scene, with entire families killed in their tents. The Israeli military said they targeted Hamas militants operating in a command-and-control center to avoid civilian casualties.
The war has displaced around 90% of Gaza’s population, with hundreds of thousands seeking shelter in crowded tent camps along the coast. Aid groups struggle to provide basic services, and Israel has occasionally struck targets in the humanitarian zone. The Health Ministry reports over 40,000 Palestinians killed in Gaza since the war began, without distinguishing between fighters and civilians.
Efforts to broker a cease-fire and release hostages have repeatedly failed due to new demands from Israel and Hamas. The ongoing conflict has led to a humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with a high risk of famine and challenges in providing aid. The United Nations reported that Israeli troops stopped a polio vaccination campaign convoy in Gaza, damaging vehicles and threatening staff. The vaccination drive aims to vaccinate 640,000 children in the war-torn region.
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