Strike in Gaza leaves at least 22 dead among displaced civilians, as Israel broadens military operations
A bombing struck temporary shelters of Palestinians in Mawasi, a Palestinian town, where a large number of people have taken refuge due to prolonged Israeli operations in Rafah. The Red Cross hospital in the area reported receiving 22 corpses and 45 wounded individuals, as stated by the ICRC.
The Palestine Red Crescent Society accuses Israel of the bombing, citing severe casualties. The Gaza Health Ministry revealed that 25 people were killed and 50 were injured in the attack. however, CNN could not verify the casualty numbers.
Initially, the Israeli military stated that the incident was being investigated but found no evidence linking them to the bombing in Mawasi. They declared that a part of Mawasi, close to the coast, is considered a humanitarian zone.
The ICRC confirmed that one of its facilities was damaged in the bombing.
In a post on X, the ICRC did not assign blame for the bombing but stated, "Our ICRC office, surrounded by hundreds of displaced civilians living in tents, was damaged by nearby shelling in Gaza. Firing so close to humanitarian structures endangers the lives of civilians and humanitarians."
They added that "heavy-caliber projectiles" had landed mere meters from the facility.
The ICRC reported several similar incidents recently, where stray bullets hit ICRC structures.
They told all parties involved in the conflict that they have a responsibility to take "all feasible precautions to avoid harming civilians."
Due to expanding Israeli operations in Rafah, located to the south, tens of thousands of people have sought shelter in Mawasi. In recent days, Israeli military operations have been reportedly moving towards the west and north of Rafah, according to reports from inside Gaza. The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) declared that they have encountered significant resistance from Hamas fighters.
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The Middle East, specifically Gaza, continues to be a region of conflict, with the recent bombing in Mawasi resulting in the death of at least 22 displaced civilians and injuring 45 others. The World Health Organization in Gaza reported an increased number of casualties, although their figures were not independently verified.
