The Israeli air raids overnight in central Gaza have resulted in one of the deadliest attacks of the nearly three-month-long war, with over 100 people killed. The Palestinian Ministry of Health reported that at least 70 people were killed in strikes at the Maghazi refugee camp in central Gaza, and the number of casualties rose to over 100 with attacks on the Bureij refugee camp. Health Ministry spokesperson Ashraf al-Qudra stated that the death toll at the Maghazi refugee camp was expected to increase, describing the situation as a “massacre” in a crowded residential area.
Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital has been overwhelmed with bodies, and dozens more are reported to be injured. The bombings destroyed several houses and neighborhoods, leaving families searching through the rubble for survivors. Hani Mahmoud from Rafah in southern Gaza reported that the bombs fell on homes, buildings, and infrastructure, such as roads leading to and from the refugee camps.
The attack resulted in the deaths of mostly women and children. Palestinian Ahmad Turokmani, who lost several family members, described how the camp, which had previously been advised as a safe place to evacuate to, had been “completely flattened”. The attack has been compared to the one on the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza the previous week, which resulted in at least 90 deaths. Calls for aid have increased as the medical care system in Gaza is collapsing.
Hamas referred to the air attack on the Maghazi camp as a “horrific massacre” and a “new war crime”. Israel’s military spokesperson’s office stated that it was investigating the reports of the attack. Despite a recent UN Security Council resolution to boost aid to Gaza, the air raids have intensified, causing widespread destruction.