Israel says at least 71 people have been killed in an attack on Hamas commanders in southern Gaza, local health officials said Saturday.
Hamas military commander Mohammed Deif and Rafa Salama, a second Hamas commander, were the intended targets, Israel said. Hamas rejected Israel’s claim that Dief was the target and it is not yet known whether he is among the dead, This was reported by the Associated Press news agency.
The attack hit Al-Mawasi, a designated humanitarian safe zone in Gaza where thousands of Palestinians had sought refuge.
Deif is believed to be the person who masterminded the October 7 attack on Israel that killed 1,200 people and sparked the ongoing war. He has been on Israel’s most wanted list for years, The AP reported.
If he is among the dead, ceasefire negotiations could fail as it could be seen as a major Israeli victory, the news agency said.
In the past, Deif has survived seven Israeli assassination attempts, This was reported by Reuters.
At least 71 Palestinians were killed and 289 wounded in the airstrike, the deadliest attack in weeks, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
“A number of victims are still under the rubble and on the roads, and ambulances and civil protection teams cannot reach them,” the Health Ministry said, according to The AP.
The Israeli military claimed that terrorists were hiding among civilians.
According to images reviewed by the AP, the attack left a huge crater, with charred tents, burned-out cars and household items scattered around.
An Israeli military official said during an online briefing that the area was not a tent complex but a Hamas compound where militants were guarding Deif, Reuters reported.
According to the Health Ministry, more than 38,400 people have been killed and more than 88,000 wounded in Israel’s counteroffensive since the October 7 attack.
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