An Israeli airstrike has killed at least 10 people and wounded several others near a school housing displaced Palestinians in central Gaza, according to health officials. The strike on Monday occurred as Palestinians clashed with members of an Israeli-backed militia that reportedly attempted to abduct some individuals, based on accounts from medics and residents.
The Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital stated: "At least 10 people were killed and dozens injured, including six in critical condition, by Israeli shelling and clashes east of the Maghazi refugee camp". Witnesses added that during the clashes, Israeli drones fired two missiles, killing at least 10 people and wounding several others.
Palestinian witness Ahmed al-Maghazi told Reuters news agency: "The residents tried to defend their homes, but the occupation forces targeted them directly". Later, the leader of the Israeli-backed militia claimed in a published video that they killed about five Hamas members, although Al Jazeera cannot independently verify this claim, and there was no immediate comment from Hamas.
During Israel's two-year war on Gaza, the Maghazi refugee camp was designated by the Israeli military as a so-called "safe zone". According to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinians in the Near East (UNRWA), it was previously one of the smallest refugee camps in the Palestinian enclave, with approximately 30,000 residents; in the early months of the war, the population more than tripled.
Despite its designation as a "safe zone", the Israeli military has targeted it in numerous deadly strikes. One attack in December 2023 killed over 100 people, mostly displaced women and children. Following a fragile "ceasefire" in October, Israel has continued to attack sites across the Gaza Strip, including the Maghazi camp. Earlier today, sources including an Al Jazeera correspondent reported that a World Health Organization (WHO) staff member was killed in Gaza, and several others were injured when the Israeli army fired on their vehicle.
Source: www.aljazeera.com