13 July 2024 Al-Mawasi airstrikes
| July 2024 Al-Mawasi airstrikes | |
|---|---|
| Part of the Israel–Hamas war | |
  Al-Mawasi | |
| Location | Al-Mawasi, Khan Yunis, Gaza Strip |
| Date | 13 July 2024 |
| Target | Mohammed Deif and Rafi Salama (allegedly) |
Attack type | Airstrikes, massacre |
| Deaths | 90+ |
| Injured | 300+ |
| Perpetrator |  Israeli Air Force |
 | This article documents a current event. Information may change rapidly as the event progresses, and initial news reports may be unreliable. The latest updates to this article may not reflect the most current information. (July 2024) |
On 13 July 2024, Israeli airstrikes attacked a fenced operational area, run by Hamas, in the western outskirts of Khan Yunis,[1] Gaza Strip. The strike was an alleged attempt to assassinate the military commander of Hamas, Mohammed Deif, as well as Rafa Salama.[2] The Gaza Health Ministry reported that 90 Palestinians were killed, while another 300 were injured.[3][4]
Background
During the Israel–Hamas war, many civilians in Gaza Strip were ordered to evacuate to humanitarian safe zones. Although the Israel Defense Forces had declared in December 2023 a humanitarian safe zone in Al-Mawasi, other parts of it been bombed since. In the weeks preceding the attacks, Israel had expanded the "safe zone" to include parts of Khan Yunis, causing hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to take shelter in Al-Mawasi, on the orders of the IDF.[2] A top target for the IDF and allegedly one of the masterminds behind the 7 October attacks, Mohammed Deif is known for escaping and surviving several assassination attempts by Israel.[5]
Airstrikes
The Israeli attack targeted several tents housing displaced Palestinians and a water distillation unit in the area, as well as a separate house located some distance away.[2] According to Al Jazeera, big warplanes hit Al-Mawasi with five bombs and five missiles.[3] Eyewitnesses reported that the site of the airstrike looked like an "earthquake" had hit. Israeli airstrikes also targeted rescue teams as they attempted to help wounded victims, killing some rescuers.[6] According to Medical Aid for Palestinians, Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis is "overwhelmed" and unable to take in the large numbers of wounded patients.[5]
Aftermath and death toll
The PRCS said that its ambulance crews have attended to 102 injured patients and recovered 23 bodies after the attack, 20 of the wounded and 21 bodies were transferred to the Red Crescent’s al-Quds Field Hospital, and 22 of the injured were transferred to al-Amal Hospital.[7]
Eyewitnesses said that after the attack, squadrons of quadcopter aircraft that waited for the ambulance and civil defence teams and opened fire as soon as they arrived.[8]
The Gaza Health Ministry reported that there were more than 71 dead and 289 wounded in what it called a "brutal massacre by the occupation".[6] According to Hamas spokesperson Abu Zhuri, all those killed were civilians.[9]
The IDF said that it was in the process of verifying whether Mohammed Deif was killed in the airstrikes.[10] According to the Saudi channel Al-Hadath, Rafa Salama was killed in the strike while Deif was seriously wounded.[11]
Reactions
Domestic
Israel: The Israel Defense Forces said Mohammed Deif and the commander of Hamas in Khan Younis were in the compound.[12] The IDF stated: "Our attack in Mawasi Khan Yunis targets Al-Deif, the commander of the Khan Yunis Brigade, Rafi Salama, and other Hamas activists". It has also claimed that it acted on "precise intelligence" to hit an area where "two senior Hamas terrorists" were hiding.[3]
Hamas: Hamas dismissed the IDF's claims that it had killed Mohammed Deif, labeling them as "false allegations" that aimed to "cover up the scale of the horrific massacre".[13] Hamas also stated that "It is not the first time Israel claims to target Palestinian leaders, only to be proven false later".[5] In a statement, Hamas announced: "The al-Mawasi massacre in Khan Younis has been committed against an area that is crowded with more than 80,000 displaced people. This is an obvious and clear confirmation from the Zionist government that it will continuing its war of extermination against our Palestinian people, through repeatedly and systematically targeting the defenceless displaced civilians in tents, shelters and residential neighbourhoods".[3] The group made a statement on Telegram calling for the Palestinians of the West Bank and East Jerusalem to "mobilize" in response to the strike.[14]
Palestine: Nabil Abu Rudeineh, a spokesman for the Palestinian Authority said that US bears responsibility for Israel's actions, also stated that "The massacre in al-Mawasi is a continuation of the genocidal war against our people".[15] Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa has condemned Israel's "genocidal crimes" in Gaza.[16]- Palestinian Islamic Jihad: the movement condemned the attack, stating that "The horrific massacre committed by the Zionist entity in al-Mawasi near Khan Younis is an insistence on continuing the war of extermination against our people,"[17]
International
Colombia: President Gustavo Petro stated that he was outraged after the attack on X.[18]
Egypt: The Foreign ministry strongly condemned the attack.[19]
Iran: Nasser Kanaani, a spokesperson for the Iranian foreign ministry condemned the attack, stating on X that the attack was the "latest crime in the series of crimes committed by the child-killing Zionist regime".[20]
Jordan: Foreign ministry spokesperson Sufyan al-Qudah condemned the attack.[21]
Qatar: The country calls the attack "a brutal and shocking massacre, and a new incident to be added to the ongoing series of occupation crimes against the Palestinian people and all of humanity", the foreign ministry calls for an international action against Israel.[22]
Saudi Arabia: the Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the attack and called for "activating international accountability mechanisms" against Israel.[23]
Houthi movement: The group condemned the attack, calling Israel's leaders "war criminals" and stated that "The enemy's false claims about targeting leaders in the Palestinian resistance cannot cover up the ugliness of its crimes,".[24]
Other groups
- ActionAid: the humanitarian group condemned the attack.[25]
- Council on American–Islamic Relations: The group calls for the end of US support on Israel.[26]
- Medical Aid for Palestinians: the UK-based charity organization calls for the British government to "act urgently to suspend arms sales to Israel and prevent further atrocities".[27]
Protests
Demonstrations erupted in Jerusalem condemning the attack which was called an "unfortunate event" by some demonstrators which called for a ceasefire and a hostage deal[28]
References
- ^ "An Israeli attack targeting the Hamas military commander kills at least 71 in southern Gaza". Associated Press. 2024-07-13. Archived from the original on 2024-07-13. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
- ^ a b c "Dozens dead after Israeli air strikes target top Hamas commander". www.ft.com. Archived from the original on 2024-07-13. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
- ^ a b c d "Over 70 killed in Israeli strikes on al-Mawasi 'safe zone' in south Gaza". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
- ^ Jamal, Mersiha Gadzo,Tamila Varshalomidze,Urooba. "'Children in pieces': Israeli raids on Gaza 'safe zone' kill 90, wound 300". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 2024-07-13. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ a b c "Hamas-run health ministry says at least 71 killed in strike on Gaza's al Mawasi". BBC News. 2024-07-13. Archived from the original on 2024-07-13. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
- ^ a b "Israeli strike on Gaza 'safe zone' camp kills 71, rescuers also targeted". The New Arab. 13 July 2024. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
- ^ "PRCS says it attended to 102 people wounded in al-Mawasi attack". Al Jazeera. 13 July 2024.
- ^ "Israeli forces targeted rescue teams as soon as they arrived: Witnesses". Al Jazeera. 13 July 2024.
- ^ "Dozens killed in Israeli military operation to target two Hamas officials". NBC News. 2024-07-13. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
- ^ Diamond, Jeremy (2024-07-13). "Israel targets Hamas military chief in strike Palestinian officials say killed at least 70 people". CNN. Archived from the original on 2024-07-13. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
- ^ Tondo, Lorenzo; Tantesh, Malak A. (2024-07-13). "Hamas mastermind of 7 October attack target of deadly Gaza strike, claims Israel". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
- ^ זיתון, יואב (2024-07-13). "צה"ל מאשר: ניסינו לחסל את מוחמד דף במתחם מחבלים, מחכים לתוצאות התקיפה". Ynet (in Hebrew). Archived from the original on 2024-07-13. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
- ^ Bisset, Victoria; Chamaa, Mohamad El (2024-07-13). "Israel targets Hamas military leader; 71 killed in Mawasi strike, officials say". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
- ^ "Hamas calls on West Bank Palestinians to protest for Gaza". Al Jazeera. 13 July 2024.
- ^ "US bears responsibility for continuation of massacres: PA". Al Jazeera. 13 July 2024.
- ^ "Palestinian PM condemns Israel's 'genocidal crimes' in Gaza". Al Jazeera. 13 July 2024.
- ^ "PIJ condemns Israel for 'premeditated' al-Mawasi massacre". Al Jazeera. 13 July 2024.
- ^ "Colombian president slams Israeli attack on al-Mawasi". Al Jazeera. 13 July 2024.
- ^ "Egypt says attacks against Palestinians complicate deal efforts". Al Jazeera. 13 July 2024.
- ^ "Iran's Foreign Ministry condemns Israel's attack on al-Mawasi". Al Jazeera. 13 July 2024.
- ^ "Jordan denounces Israeli attack on al-Mawasi". Al Jazeera. 13 July 2024. Archived from the original on 13 July 2024. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
- ^ "Qatar condemns 'horrific Israeli massacre of displaced people in Gaza'". Al Jazeera. 13 July 2024.
- ^ "Saudi Arabia condemns al-Mawasi attack". Al Jazeera. 13 July 2024. Archived from the original on 13 July 2024. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
- ^ "Houthis say 'false claims' cannot cover up al-Mawasi massacre". Al Jazeera. 13 July 2024. Archived from the original on 13 July 2024. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
- ^ "Action Aid denounces Israeli attack on al-Mawasi". Al Jazeera. 13 July 2024. Archived from the original on 13 July 2024. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
- ^ "US Muslim group to Biden: 'Stop enabling these daily massacres'". Al Jazeera. 13 July 2024. Archived from the original on 13 July 2024. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
- ^ "British charity calls for UK government to suspend arms sales to Israel". Al Jazeera. 13 July 2024.
- ^ "Israeli protesters calling for captive deal condemn deadly Gaza air raid". Al Jazeera. 13 July 2024. Archived from the original on 13 July 2024. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
