Dozens Dead or Injured in Gaza Humanitarian Zone Amid Israeli Airstrikes

On September 9, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced that their warplanes targeted Hamas militants located in a command facility within a humanitarian zone in southern Gaza. This military action led to reports from Palestinian health officials mentioning significant civilian casualties, claiming dozens were either killed or injured due to the airstrikes.

The IDF stated that the strike particularly aimed at militants functioning within the Humanitarian Area of Khan Yunis. This action was justified on the grounds that the Iranian-backed group had launched attacks against IDF troops and posed a threat to the state of Israel.

In its defense, the IDF accused Hamas of exploiting civilian and humanitarian infrastructure in Gaza to initiate assaults against Israel. They further claimed to have taken numerous precautions, including using precision munitions and conducting aerial surveillance, to minimize risks to civilians before proceeding with the airstrikes.

Among those targeted in the operations were key figures within Hamas, including Samer Ismail Khadr Abu Daqq, who leads the group’s aerial unit, Osama Tabesh, head of the Observations and Targets Department in their Military Intelligence Headquarters, and a senior Hamas figure, Ayman Mabhouh.

Meanwhile, WAFA, the Palestinian Authority’s official news agency, contended that the strikes impacted tents which were sheltering internally displaced individuals at the Al-Mawasi refugee camp.

Health authorities reported that around 40 people lost their lives and 60 were injured as a result of the airstrikes. Civilian defense services expressed concern over the high number of casualties, mentioning severe injuries including amputations, and indicated that search efforts for missing persons among the tents were ongoing.

Israel has frequently accused Hamas of utilizing Palestinian civilians and their infrastructure as shields during the ongoing conflict, which Hamas has consistently denied. In response to IDF statements, a Hamas spokesperson labeled the claims as false. They referred to this as a “clear lie” that serves to legitimize what they characterized as heinous acts against civilians.

Since the onset of the conflict on October 7, 2022, when Hamas launched a surprise and devastating assault that resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 Israelis and the abduction of an additional 251 individuals, Israel and Hamas have been at war for nearly a year. Currently, around 97 hostages remain unaccounted for.

Initially, the Israeli military designated Al-Mawasi as a humanitarian zone intended for Palestinians evacuating from northern Gaza. However, this designation has not mitigated the impact of ongoing attacks.

As per the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, more than 55 evacuation orders remain active, currently affecting 86% of Gaza. The United Nations relief organization for Palestinian refugees reported that up to 1.9 million of the approximate 2 million residents in Gaza are now internally displaced. Many of these individuals have had to relocate multiple times due to the conflict, with some reporting as many as nine to ten displacements.

The ongoing war has devastated vast areas of Gaza. According to the Palestinian Health Ministry, which does not differentiate between civilian and militant casualties, the conflict has resulted in nearly 41,000 fatalities and approximately 95,000 injuries.