The Israeli military claimed an airstrike launched early on Thursday morning killed a senior member of Hamas' internal security apparatus. Palestinian officials reported that the strike in Gaza killed nine other people, including three children.
The attack hit a tent in Muwasi, a designated humanitarian zone where hundreds of thousands of displaced individuals are sheltering amid the cold, rainy winter.
Why It Matters
This attack is part of Israel's ongoing military efforts against Hamas, targeting senior officials and infrastructure. While Israel claims to be dismantling Hamas' military capabilities, the humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate.
The region is struggling with a breakdown in law and order and delays in essential aid, all while the conflict enters its 15th month.
What To Know
The Israeli military identified the target of the strike as Hossam Shahwan, a senior officer within Hamas' internal security. Shahwan was reportedly involved in gathering intelligence for Hamas' armed wing, which has carried out numerous attacks against Israeli forces. Also killed in the strike was Maj. Gen. Mahmoud Salah, another senior official within Hamas' police force.
Muwasi is a zone where displaced Palestinians are living in tents after fleeing violence elsewhere in Gaza. Despite being labeled a humanitarian area by Israel, the zone remains a target of Israeli airstrikes. The humanitarian toll on civilians, already living in dire conditions, has worsened due to the ongoing conflict.
Israel has frequently accused Hamas of operating within civilian areas, claiming militants use civilians as shields. The military insists these tactics contribute to the rising death toll among noncombatants. Meanwhile, Palestinian health officials continue to report the growing number of civilian casualties as a result of the conflict.
The current conflict erupted after Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel, which killed around 1,200 people and left 250 held hostage, with 100 still missing and many feared dead. Since then over 45,000 Palestinians are reported to have been killed by the Health Ministry in Gaza, which does not distinguish between militant and civilian dead.
The Hamas-run police force, once numbering in the tens of thousands and responsible for maintaining public order in Gaza, has largely dissolved due to Israeli airstrikes. This collapse of law enforcement has further hindered the delivery of humanitarian aid to those in need.
What People Are Saying
The United Nations Human Rights Office has warned that Israeli strikes targeting hospitals and their surrounding areas have driven Gaza's health care system to the brink of collapse, potentially constituting violations of international law.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently said there has been "some progress" in efforts to reach a hostage and ceasefire deal in Gaza. However, he did not provide a time frame for any possible agreement.
What Happens Next
With the war showing no signs of ending soon, the humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate. International calls for a ceasefire and expanded humanitarian aid access are growing louder, but immediate relief is still uncertain. The Israeli military has vowed to continue its operations against Hamas, while efforts to address the region's urgent humanitarian needs face ongoing challenges.
This article include reporting from The Associated Press
:quality(85):upscale()/2024/04/24/878/n/3019466/36c5693c662965c5d1ce91.72473705_.jpg)
English (US) ·