The Israeli military has been accused of committing a massacre in the al-Mawasi area, a designated “safe zone,” resulting in the deaths of at least 90 Palestinians. The attack on Saturday has sparked international condemnation, with critics accusing Israel of targeting civilians under the pretext of fighting Hamas militants.
The bombardment of al-Mawasi, a coastal area west of Khan Younis, occurred where hundreds of thousands of Gaza residents had been sheltering after fleeing cities like Rafah. The area was considered a “humanitarian zone” by many, making the attack even more devastating.
Al Jazeera reporter Tareq Abu Azzoum described the incident as “a new massacre committed by the Israeli military,” detailing how “five bombs and five missiles” hit the area where Palestinians had been living in makeshift tents for months. Gaza’s Ministry of Health reported that the death toll had reached at least 90, with nearly 300 people wounded, including paramedics and children.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) claimed that the attack was based on “precise intelligence” and targeted senior Hamas commanders Mohammed Deif and Rafa Salama. “We have seen time and time again attacks on areas where there are displaced Palestinians in the tens of thousands,” reported Al Jazeera’s Hamdah Salhut. The IDF often justifies such attacks by alleging that Hamas uses civilians as “human shields.”
Despite these claims, the Washington Post noted that it was “unclear” whether Deif, who has survived multiple assassination attempts by Israel, was actually killed in the attack.
The United Nations’ top expert on human rights in Palestine, Francesca Albanese, condemned the Israeli military’s actions. “The justification is always the same: ‘targeting Palestinian militants,’” said Albanese. “When is the world going to stop this death machine?”
Non-governmental organizations and charities also voiced their concerns. Medical Aid for Palestine reported that it had to temporarily evacuate one of its medical points near al-Mawasi due to the insecurity. “MAP’s Mohammed Al Khatib in Khan Younis reports: ‘Al-Mawasi is heavily crowded and has a big market where people move around to try and secure their basic needs,’” the group stated. “We have been warning for months that there is no safe place for anyone in Gaza amid Israel’s military bombardment.”
Academic and writer Ori Goldberg condemned the attack, stating, “Israel used wildly disproportionate force to assassinate two people. Israel pushed the displaced Palestinians to Mawasi, defining it a ‘safe zone.’ Then, assuming it had a chance to assassinate Mohammed Deif, one of the most senior Hamas leaders supposedly hiding there, Israel bombed the ‘safe zone.’ Dozens were killed. The death of a single person does not legitimize the slaughter of dozens.”
The humanitarian impact of the attack has been severe. The Ministry of Health in Gaza reported that paramedics and children were among nearly 300 people wounded in the assault. An official at Nasser Hospital told Al Jazeera that the facility had no more capacity to treat wounded patients. “A number of victims are still under the rubble and on the roads, and ambulance and civil defense crews are unable to reach them,” the Health Ministry said.
Footage assessed by the Associated Press showed a “huge crater” in the area where thousands of people had been ordered to evacuate to when the IDF began its full-scale assault on Rafah in May. Burnt-out cars, household belongings, and charred tents were left in the aftermath of the bombings, similar to previous attacks on so-called “humanitarian zones” in al-Mawasi and Rafah.
The attack comes amid an ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, with recent escalations intensifying the violence. US President Joe Biden had recently announced that Hamas and Israel were inching closer to a truce, with both sides agreeing to a “framework” for a ceasefire. However, the massacre in al-Mawasi has cast doubt on these efforts.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) attributed part of the blame for the massacre to the political and material support of the United States and other Western countries. “Israel’s far-right government carries out this mass slaughter of Palestinians secure in the knowledge that it will be supported and excused by the Biden administration and that American bombs and taxpayer funds will continue to flow,” said Nihad Awad, national director of CAIR. “President Biden’s continuing support for and silence about the genocide gives a green light for more Israeli abuses and war crimes. President Biden must stop enabling these daily massacres and end our nation’s complicity in genocide.”
In response to the attack, Palestinians in the occupied West Bank observed a general strike, protesting against Israel’s war on Gaza and the massacre in al-Mawasi. Most cities in the West Bank joined the strike on Sunday, with demonstrations in Jenin, Hebron, and Tubas denouncing the devastating war. Local Palestinian social media accounts shared videos showing shops closing in response to calls for the strike.
Reporting from Ramallah, Al Jazeera’s Nour Odeh noted that Palestinians feel that striking is “the bare minimum” they can do “to express solidarity, to feel that they are doing something to stand by their fellow Palestinians in Gaza as they feel helpless,” while also confronting Israeli raids in the West Bank.
As the conflict continues, the international community remains divided over the actions of the Israeli military and the response of the global powers. “Violence has NO place in our democracy,” said California Gov. Gavin Newsom. “My thoughts are with everyone impacted at the rally today.”
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