Israeli Attack Kills Dozens in Khan Younis, Gaza

At least 71 people tragically lost their lives in a devastating Israeli attack on Saturday in the southern part of the war-torn enclave of Gaza. Reports from Gaza’s health ministry indicate that approximately 289 individuals were also wounded in the strike that targeted the Khan Younis area. Many of the casualties were rushed to the nearby Nasser Hospital for urgent medical attention.

Witnesses present at the hospital, including journalists from the Associated Press, witnessed the grim aftermath of the attack, with over 40 bodies being counted. The strike, consisting of multiple bombings, created chaos and destruction in the area.

The exact location of the attack, whether it fell within Muwasi—a designated humanitarian zone by Israel extending from northern Rafah to Khan Younis, remains uncertain. This coastal strip has become a refuge for hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians seeking safety, with most of them living in precarious conditions in makeshift tents.

Meanwhile, an Israeli official has confirmed that the primary target of Saturday’s strike in Khan Younis was Mohammed Deif, the leader of Hamas’ military wing. Another prominent Hamas figure, Rafa Salama, was also reportedly targeted in the same attack. Details on the fate of these two targets are yet to be confirmed.

The Israeli military campaign in Gaza was initiated following the incursion of Hamas militants into southern Israel, resulting in the deaths of around 1,200 individuals, predominantly civilians, on October 7. Since then, Israeli offensives and airstrikes have claimed the lives of more than 38,300 people in Gaza and left over 88,000 others injured, as reported by Gaza’s health ministry. The dire situation has forced more than 80% of Gaza’s population, totaling 2.3 million people, to flee their homes, with many now residing in overcrowded tent camps, battling severe hunger.