An Israeli airstrike on Saturday resulted in the deaths of at least 90 Palestinians in a designated humanitarian zone in Gaza, according to the enclave’s health ministry. The target of the attack was reportedly Hamas military chief Mohammed Deif, though it was unclear if he was among the casualties. “We are still checking and verifying the results of the strike,” an Israeli military official said.
Hamas, the militant Islamist group, denied that its leaders were targeted, calling the Israeli claims a justification for the attack, which marked the deadliest Israeli assault in Gaza in recent weeks.
Displaced individuals in the area described the devastating impact of the strike, with tents torn apart and bodies scattered. “I couldn’t even tell where I was or what was happening,” said Sheikh Youssef, a Gaza City resident now displaced in the Al-Mawasi area. “I left the tent and looked around, all the tents were knocked down, body parts, bodies everywhere, elderly women thrown on the floor, young children in pieces,” he recounted.
The Israeli military stated the strike aimed at Deif also targeted Rafa Salama, commander of Hamas’ Khan Younis Brigade, both alleged masterminds of the Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel that led to the ongoing conflict. Deif has survived multiple Israeli assassination attempts over the years and is held responsible for numerous Israeli deaths in suicide bombings.
The Gaza health ministry reported 91 Palestinians killed and 300 injured in the strike, making it the deadliest in weeks. Al-Mawasi, designated as a humanitarian area by the Israeli army, has been a refuge for those evacuated from other parts of Gaza. Reuters footage showed ambulances rushing to the scene amidst clouds of smoke and dust, with displaced people fleeing in panic.
The Israeli military released an aerial photo of the site, claiming “terrorists hid among civilians” in the area, which it described as an operational compound run by Hamas rather than a tent complex.
Many wounded were taken to Nasser Hospital, which was overwhelmed and struggling to function due to the intensity of the offensive and a shortage of medical supplies. “The hospital is full of patients, it’s full of wounded, we can’t find beds for people,” said Atef al-Hout, the hospital’s director.
Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant held special consultations in light of the developments in Gaza. The impact of the strike on ceasefire talks in Doha and Cairo remained uncertain. “Maybe it’s good, maybe it’s not good. I don’t know about Mohammed Deif, I know that keeping the war is bad for all of us,” said Ayala Metzger, the daughter-in-law of an Israeli hostage participating in a solidarity march near Jerusalem. “We need to bring the hostages back,” she added.
In another incident on Saturday, at least 20 Palestinians were killed in an Israeli attack on a prayer hall at a Gaza camp for displaced people in west Gaza City, according to Palestinian health and civil emergency officials.
A senior Hamas official did not confirm Deif’s presence in the Khan Younis attack and dismissed the Israeli allegations. “All the martyrs are civilians, and what happened was a grave escalation of the war of genocide, backed by American support and world silence,” Sami Abu Zuhri told Reuters, arguing that the strike showed Israel’s lack of interest in a ceasefire deal.
Critics have accused Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians, which Israel denies, stating its actions are in self-defense to prevent further attacks like the one on Oct. 7. The International Court of Justice ordered Israel in January to take action to prevent acts of genocide.
Hamas-led militants killed 1,200 people and took more than 250 hostages in the Oct. 7 cross-border raid into southern Israel, according to Israeli tallies. Israel’s military response in Gaza has resulted in over 38,000 Palestinian deaths, according to Gaza’s medical authorities.
Witnesses described the Khan Younis attack as surprising, as the area had been calm. Multiple missiles were reportedly fired, and some of the wounded were rescue workers. “They’re all gone, my whole family’s gone … where are my brothers? They’re all gone, they’re all gone. There’s no one left,” said one tearful woman.
Deif, who has been rising through Hamas’ ranks for 30 years, is credited with developing the group’s tunnel network and bomb-making expertise. In March, Israel claimed to have killed Deif’s deputy, Marwan Issa, though Hamas has not confirmed or denied his death.
