Hamas reports 71 fatalities in Israeli strike on Gaza humanitarian zone

In a devastating attack on Gaza, the Hamas-run health ministry has reported that 71 Palestinians have been killed in an Israeli air strike on a designated humanitarian area. The strike, which also left more than 289 people injured, targeted the al-Mawasi area near Khan Younis. This area had been designated as a humanitarian zone by the Israeli military, urging Palestinians to seek shelter there.

Hamas has claimed that the strike was aimed at civilians, while Israel insists that it was targeting senior Hamas leaders, specifically the head of Hamas’s military wing, Mohammed Deif. An Israeli official stated that the attack took place in an “open area” where there were “only Hamas terrorists and no civilians”.

This tragic incident highlights the ongoing conflict and tensions between Israel and Gaza, with both sides accusing each other of violence and aggression. As the death toll rises and the humanitarian crisis worsens, it is clear that a peaceful solution must be urgently sought to end the suffering of innocent civilians caught in the crossfire. Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story on BBC News.