Israel Strikes Tent Camp in Gaza Safe Zone; Dozens Reported Killed or Injured, According to Reuters

By Mohammad Salem and Nidal al-Mughrabi

AL-MAWASI, Gaza Strip/CAIRO (Reuters) – Before dawn on Tuesday, Israeli airstrikes created a massive crater in a designated safe zone in southern Gaza, igniting tents and burying families under sand.

Palestinian officials reported numerous casualties, with at least 19 bodies recovered and many others still unaccounted for. Photographers on the scene witnessed the aftermath and saw several deceased individuals. However, the Israeli military contested these casualty figures.

According to the Israeli military, the strikes targeted a command center of Hamas operatives who had infiltrated the area designated for humanitarian safety in al-Mawasi, where hundreds of thousands of Palestinians sought refuge after being ordered to leave their homes. Hamas, on the other hand, denied any presence of fighters in the area.

Rescue teams worked throughout the night, using shovels to search for bodies and survivors in the aftermath of the strike, which left a crater equivalent to the size of a small football field. Nearby tents were reduced to ash-strewn metal frames, with debris scattered about. A car was completely buried, leaving only its roof visible above the sand.

In the morning, mourners gathered at a local hospital to grieve over bodies wrapped in white plastic or bloodstained shrouds. Raed Abu Muammar recounted the tragedy affecting his family: one daughter had died, while his wife and another daughter were initially buried but later rescued alive. He cradled his surviving baby girl in his arms, expressing his disbelief over the violence in what was meant to be a safe area.

The Gaza health ministry reported that 19 bodies had been brought to hospitals, yet many victims remained trapped under rubble or on inaccessible roads. The Hamas-run media office claimed over 40 fatalities and stated that around 60 individuals were injured, with some still missing.

According to residents and medical personnel, the camp was struck by multiple missiles. Survivor Ola al-Shaer described the horrific scene: “We saw women and children cut to pieces. There are still people missing. Families are searching for their loved ones, and they have not yet found them."

The Gaza Civil Emergency Service confirmed that at least 20 tents were engulfed in flames, estimating the number of dead or injured at 65, including women and children. A civil emergency official referred to the situation as “a new Israeli massacre."

The U.N. Middle East peace envoy condemned the Israeli strike on a heavily populated humanitarian zone, stressing that civilians must not be used as human shields. He reiterated the need for all parties to negotiate a ceasefire to stop the civilian casualties and end the war.

In response to accusations about casualties, the Israeli military stated that it targeted senior Hamas commanders operating within the humanitarian area. They asserted that these individuals were implicated in previous attacks and had continued efforts to conduct terrorist activities.

Hamas refuted Israeli claims about the presence of fighters in civilian areas, insisting that their members do not exploit such locations for military activities.

The ongoing conflict escalated on October 7, when Hamas launched an attack that resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people in Israel, coupled with the abduction of approximately 250 hostages. The subsequent Israeli military action in Gaza has led to over 41,000 Palestinian fatalities, according to the local health ministry.

Both sides continue to blame each other for the lack of progress in achieving a ceasefire and resolving the hostage situation. Currently, nearly all of Gaza’s population, approximately 2.3 million, has been displaced at least once, with some families having to flee multiple times.