Israeli airstrikes in Gaza on Tuesday targeted the overcrowded al-Mawasi tent city, designated a “safe zone,” leaving dozens of civilians dead and wounded. The attack, which Israel claims was aimed at Hamas militants, has drawn sharp criticism for the civilian casualties, especially since the bombs used were reportedly supplied by the United States. The assault has added fuel to growing international outrage over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the complicity of countries like the U.S. in providing military support.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) claim that the strike was meant to eliminate a Hamas “command center” in the al-Mawasi area, which had been designated a humanitarian zone for displaced Palestinians. However, local officials and witnesses reported that the bombs left massive craters and incinerated tents, killing many civilians. A spokesperson for Gaza’s civil defense noted that the strike killed at least 40 people and injured over 60, many critically.
Maha Hussaini, strategy director at the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor, emphasized the horrific destruction caused by the U.S.-made bombs used in the strike: “Now, imagine the devastation when the Israeli occupation army uses three U.S.-made MK-84 bombs on them.”
Rescue workers, struggling to locate survivors, resorted to using garden tools and their bare hands to dig through the rubble, according to reports from the Associated Press. The scene was described as chaotic and horrifying as bodies were pulled from the sand, with many of the victims being women and children.
The bombs used in the strike are believed to be MK-84 bombs supplied by the United States, part of the Biden administration’s extensive arms shipments to Israel following the October 7 Hamas-led attack. The use of these powerful bombs in civilian areas has raised alarms among human rights groups and prompted calls for an immediate halt to U.S. military support for Israel.
“The U.S. continues sending the Israeli government the bombs and warplanes it uses to slaughter Palestinians,” stated Jewish Voice for Peace Action. “Now, another unbearable and horrific massacre of forcibly displaced Palestinians who were sheltering in a tent encampment. STOP ARMING ISRAEL.”
While the IDF maintains that the airstrike targeted a Hamas command center, Hamas has denied any military presence in the area. Israeli military officials identified two Hamas commanders, Samer Abu Daqqa and Osama Tabesh, as key targets of the operation, asserting their involvement in the October 7 attack on Israel. However, critics argue that the civilian death toll far outweighed any strategic gains, highlighting the inherent risks of targeting densely populated areas.
According to reports from Reuters, the strike left “tents in the surrounding area… completely incinerated, leaving only their metal frames dusted with ghostly ash in a wasteland littered with debris.”
Since the beginning of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, more than 41,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to health officials in the besieged territory. Gaza’s population of 2.3 million has been severely displaced, with most people forced to relocate multiple times due to ongoing airstrikes and evacuation orders. Many have sought refuge in so-called “safe zones” like al-Mawasi, only to be caught in the crossfire of the ongoing conflict.
Despite international pleas for a ceasefire and the provision of humanitarian aid, the conflict shows no signs of abating. The Biden administration, while continuing to offer public support for Israel’s right to defend itself, has come under increasing pressure to reconsider its military aid package in light of the mounting civilian death toll.
Nihad Awad, national executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), did not mince words when expressing his anger at the Biden administration’s support for the Israeli military. “The far-right genocidal Israeli government continues to use its one-ton Biden bombs to massacre Palestinians as if they were sheep for the slaughter, not human beings deserving life and freedom,” said Awad.
Groups like Jewish Voice for Peace and CAIR have warned that the United States’ continued involvement could have long-lasting consequences, not only for the people of Gaza but for the global perception of U.S. foreign policy.
“The continued military and financial support for Israel’s genocide by President Biden will live in the memories of the survivors of these massacres and in the hearts of their loved ones for generations to come,” warned Awad.
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