Hamas-run Health Ministry Reports 90 Fatalities in Israeli Airstrike Targeting Military Leader
The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza reports that an Israeli airstrike on a designated humanitarian area has resulted in the deaths of at least 90 Palestinians. Additionally, around 300 people have been injured in the attack, which Israel claims was aimed at senior Hamas leader Mohammed Deif.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, during a Saturday evening news conference, stated that there was no confirmation of Deif’s death. The airstrike targeted the al-Mawasi area near Khan Younis, designated by the Israeli military as a humanitarian zone.
An Israeli military official mentioned that the strike occurred in an “open area” free of civilians, though he did not clarify if it was within a designated safe zone. He accused Hamas leaders of setting up operations cynically in civilian areas. BBC Verify analyzed footage confirming the strike happened within an area marked as a humanitarian zone on the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) website.
The official also stated that no hostages from the October 7 attack on Israel were believed to be in the area. Hamas commander Rafa Salama was another target in the strike, with the official citing “accurate intelligence” before the “precision strike.” Hamas, however, denies these claims, stating that Israel often falsely claims to target Palestinian leaders.
Eyewitnesses in al-Mawasi described the aftermath as resembling an “earthquake,” with videos showing smouldering wreckage and bloodied casualties being stretchered away. People were seen desperately sifting through the rubble with their hands.
Mohammed Deif: Elusive Hamas Leader
Mohammed Deif, head of Hamas’s military wing, the al-Qassam Brigades, has long been one of Israel’s most wanted men. Having survived multiple assassination attempts, Deif commands near-mythical status in Gaza. Imprisoned by Israeli authorities in 1989, he later formed the Brigades, aiming to capture Israeli soldiers. Israel holds him responsible for several deadly bus bombings in 1996 and the capture and killing of three Israeli soldiers in the mid-1990s. Deif is also believed to have orchestrated the October 7 Hamas attack, which resulted in the deaths of around 1,200 Israelis and foreigners and the abduction of 251 hostages.
The Aftermath and Reactions
Dr. Mohammed Abu Rayya, a doctor at a hospital dealing with the aftermath, described the situation as one of the “black days,” with many of the casualties being civilians, including women and children. Footage from the nearby Kuwait field hospital showed chaotic scenes with patients being treated on the floor. The Nasser medical complex in Khan Younis has been overwhelmed and is no longer operational, according to the British charity Medical Aid for Palestinians.
A Hamas official, quoted by Reuters, labeled Saturday’s attack a “grave escalation,” indicating that Israel is not interested in a ceasefire. Ceasefire negotiations held in Qatar and Egypt ended without success on Friday. In a separate incident, Gaza’s Hamas-run civil defense agency reported 17 fatalities from an Israeli strike west of Gaza, targeting a prayer hall in the Shati refugee camp. The Israeli military has yet to comment on this claim.
