Israeli airstrike in Gaza kills at least 40, rescue efforts hampered by extensive damage

An Israeli airstrike in Gaza Tuesday hit a densely populated area in Mawasi, near Khan Younis, killing at least 40 people and injuring 60 more, Palestinian authorities were quoted as saying by news agency AP.

This region is primarily home to displaced Palestinians who fled other parts of Gaza due to ongoing violence.

The Israeli military has said that the strike targetted a command-and-control centre for Hamas militants but did not provide detailed evidence to support this claim. Hamas has denied these allegations, asserting that there were no militants in the targeted area.

Footage from the scene shows extensive damage, including deep craters and scattered debris such as shredded tents and a bicycle. Rescue efforts have been challenging, with workers using shovels and their hands to search through the wreckage, the AP reported.

The strike comes amid a backdrop of widespread destruction in Gaza, where the Israeli military has been conducting operations following a major attack by Hamas in Israel on October 7 last year.

Gaza’s Health Ministry reports that over 40,000 Palestinians have died since the conflict began, though this figure includes both fighters and civilians. On the other side, Hamas’s attack on October 7 resulted in around 1,200 deaths, mostly civilians, and the abduction of 250 people. While some hostages have been released, about 100 remain in captivity, with many believed to be dead.

In another development, the agency’s head, Philippe Lazzarini, stressed on the UN agency responsible for aid to displaced Palestinians reported that the Israeli military delayed a convoy for over eight hours on Monday. He wrote on the social platform X. “Bulldozers to the UN armoured vehicles caused heavy damage.” The convoy was meant to support a polio vaccination campaign in northern Gaza, where the first polio case in 25 years was recently discovered. The delay included threats to UN staff and damage to their vehicles.

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