An Israeli strike on a crowded tent camp in DEIR AL-BALAH killed at least 40 people and wounded 60 others, Palestinian officials said. Israel claimed to have targeted Hamas militants, but the group denied the allegations. The strike was among the deadliest in Mawasi, where Israel designated as a humanitarian zone for displaced civilians from the Israel-Hamas war. The Civil Defense recovered 40 bodies and stated entire families were killed in their tents. The Israeli military stated it struck Hamas militants in a command-and-control center, using precise munitions to avoid civilian casualties. The war has displaced around 90% of Gaza’s population, with 40,000 Palestinians reported killed since the conflict began. Aid groups have struggled to provide assistance in the area.
The war has escalated into a humanitarian crisis, with issues such as hunger and lack of healthcare. A polio vaccination campaign aimed at vaccinating 640,000 children was disrupted when Israeli troops stopped a convoy of UN staff for over eight hours, causing heavy damage to UN armoured vehicles. The convoy was stopped at gunpoint, and the staff later returned to a UN base. The vaccination campaign was uncertain for the following day in northern Gaza. The war has led to talks between the United States, Egypt, and Qatar for a ceasefire and the release of hostages, but disagreements between Israel and Hamas have hindered progress. The conflict has resulted in a dire situation in Gaza, with humanitarian groups facing challenges in providing aid due to ongoing fighting and Israeli restrictions.
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