On Sunday, the Gaza Civil Defense reported that 21 individuals lost their lives in an Israeli strike targeting a mosque sheltering displaced persons in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza.
The attack, occurring near the entrance of Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah, also left several injured. This mosque, located near the hospital, was reportedly used by fighters from the Hamas movement.
The strike coincides with the approaching first anniversary of Israel’s ongoing military campaign against Hamas.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that the airstrike was a precision operation targeting Hamas terrorists operating within what was formerly a mosque, now serving as a command and control centre in Deir al-Balah.
This statement was supported by intelligence from the IDF and the Shin Bet security service.
This conflict reignited after an attack by Hamas-led militants on southern Israel on October 7 last year, resulting in 1,200 deaths and the capture of 250 hostages, according to Israeli counts.
The subsequent Israeli retaliation has reportedly led to nearly 42,000 Palestinian deaths and displaced almost the entire population of 2.3 million in Gaza, as per the local health ministry’s figures.
Efforts led by the United States for international diplomacy have yet to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza. While Hamas seeks an agreement to end the war, Israel maintains that the conflict will not cease until Hamas is completely defeated.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has revealed alarming statistics following a year of intense conflict in Gaza, with more than 6% of the population either killed or injured.
Idyl Sabyrbekov, Head of the WHO Emergency Health Team in the occupied Palestinian territories, shared that at least 10,000 people remain trapped under rubble, reflecting the ongoing devastation in the region.
