In DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip, an Israeli strike on a tent camp housing displaced Palestinians killed at least 40 people and wounded 60 others, according to Palestinian officials. Israel claimed to have targeted Hamas militants, but the group denied these allegations. The strike took place in Mawasi, a crowded area along the Gaza coast designated by Israel as a humanitarian zone during the Israel-Hamas war. Entire families were killed in their tents, with around two dozen bodies brought to Nasser Hospital and other casualties also reported.
Despite efforts to avoid civilian casualties, the war has led to vast destruction and displacement of around 90% of Gaza’s population. Aid groups have struggled to provide services in Mawasi, and Israel has occasionally targeted the area despite it being designated as a humanitarian zone. The health crisis in Gaza has been exacerbated by ongoing fighting, Israeli restrictions, and the breakdown of law and order, with the territory at high risk of famine according to the international authority on hunger crises.
The war between Israel and Hamas has resulted in significant casualties on both sides, with Hamas-led militants killing civilians in an attack and abducting hostages. Efforts by the United States, Egypt, and Qatar to broker a ceasefire and release hostages have repeatedly failed due to both parties accusing each other of making unacceptable demands. The war has plunged Gaza into a humanitarian crisis, with difficulties in providing aid and healthcare services, including disruptions to a polio vaccination campaign.
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