al-Maghazi refugee camp airstrikes | |
---|---|
Part of the 2023 Israel–Hamas war | |
Location | Maghazi camp, central Gaza Strip |
Date | 5 November, 24 December 2023 |
Target | Maghazi refugee camp |
Attack type | Airstrike |
Deaths | 190+ civilians |
Perpetrators | Israel |
Since the 2023 Hamas attack on Israel on 7 October 2023, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has conducted numerous airstrikes in densely populated Palestinian refugee camps in both the Gaza Strip and West Bank as part of its military operations in the 2023 Israel–Hamas war.[1] Al-Maghazi refugee camp was struck several times.
Main article: Al-Maghazi UNRWA school airstrike |
An airstrike conducted by Israel Defense Forces struck a United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) school in the Al-Maghazi refugee camp in the Gaza Strip. Six people have died in the airstrike.[2]
The Israel Defense Forces conducted an airstrike in the al-Maghazi refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip. According to Hamas-run[3] Gaza Health Ministry, at least 45 people were killed, who were mostly women and children. The IDF did not confirm that the camp had been hit with an Israeli airstrike and said its airstrikes were "specific intelligence-based strikes, specifically against terrorist elements."[4][5][6][3] The airstrike caused severe damage to neighboring homes and infrastructure. The Gaza Health Ministry stated that more than 30 dead people arrived in Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir Al-Balah following the airstrike.[7]
At about 21:00, a residential building, in Barkat Al-Waz area west of Al-Maghazi camp, was struck. 18 Palestinians, mostly children, have died; 20 others were injured.[8][9]
At least 68 people were killed in an Israeli airstrike on Christmas Eve.[10] Palestinian health officials stated that the toll was likely to rise and the strikes that began before midnight continued into Christmas Day.[11]
Gaza Health Ministry spokesperson Ashraf al-Qudra described the attack as a massacre.[12]
The Associated Press reported on December 25 that they had seen records from the nearby Al-Aqsa Hospital which indicated that at least 106 people had been killed in the attack.[13][14]
An IDF spokesperson stated that the strike "apparently resulted in harm to those not involved" and that "the IDF regrets the harm to those not involved."[15] An IDF official said that the extensive death toll was due to incorrect munitions being used in the attack.[16]
Fifteen people were killed in an airstrike on a home in Al-Maghazi on 1 January.[17] On 16 January, sixteen bodies were recovered from under rubble following multiple days of airstrikes.[18] Multiple people were reportedly killed and injured on 29 March.[19] At least three people were reportedly killed by an Israeli bombing on 31 March.[20]
On 16 April, health officials reported that an Israeli airstrike killed 13 people, including seven children; one witness stated that, "You are killing children. You are not killing an army or fighters; you are killing children who were peacefully playing in the street.", and another, speaking of "kids dead on the ground", said "They were just playing foosball, and they were martyred."[21][22]
On 5 January 2024, camp residents reported Israeli tanks crushed people.[23]