Palestinian doctors reported that at least 71 people were killed and hundreds wounded in an Israeli airstrike on a refugee camp in southern Gaza.
Hamas-controlled health authorities in Gaza said Saturday that at least 289 people were injured in the attack on the Al-Mawasi camp, which hit tents for displaced people. Many were seriously injured.
Israeli media reported that the target of the attack was Mohammed Deif, the leader of Hamas’ military wing in Gaza. It is unclear whether Deif was hit and the Israeli military has not commented.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry said it was investigating the airstrike, adding that Defense Minister Yoav Gallant had conducted an operational situation assessment together with military and intelligence officials “given the developments in Gaza.”
One of Israel’s central goals in the current conflict is to capture or kill Deif and the Hamas leader in the Gaza Strip, Yehya al-Sinwar. The third most senior Hamas leader in Gaza, Marwan Issa, was reportedly killed in March.
According to the Palestinian news agency Wafa, several heavy attacks took place in Gaza early Saturday morning. Officials at Nasser Hospital reported a shortage of beds to accommodate the large number of wounded following the attacks.
The Israeli military said on Saturday that operations were continuing across the Gaza Strip, including Gaza City. In the southern city of Rafah, Israeli forces destroyed numerous tunnels and killed several Hamas members on Friday.
