The strikes targeted areas within a designated humanitarian zone, where thousands of displaced Palestinians have sought refuge.
The first strike occurred late Monday in Muwasi, hitting a makeshift cafeteria frequented by displaced Palestinians. Officials at Nasser Hospital reported that 11 people were killed, including two children, in the attack. Video footage showed chaotic scenes as people pulled bloodied survivors from the sand-enclosed cafeteria, which was constructed from corrugated metal sheets.
This strike came shortly after the Israeli military expanded the humanitarian zone, instructing Palestinians fleeing from northern Gaza to seek safety in the area. Muwasi, located along Gaza’s Mediterranean coast, is a sparsely populated region of dunes and agricultural fields, with limited facilities. It now hosts hundreds of thousands of displaced residents sheltering in sprawling tent camps.
The escalation in Gaza comes as Israel faces a deadline to meet the Biden administration’s demands to increase humanitarian aid access or potentially face restrictions on U.S. military funding. Although Israel has announced steps to improve the humanitarian situation, including expanding the designated safety zone, U.S. officials and international aid organizations argue that these measures are insufficient. On Tuesday, a coalition of eight international aid agencies issued a report stating that Israel has yet to fully comply with U.S. demands.
A second strike early Tuesday hit a home in the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza, killing three people, including a woman, and injuring 11 others, according to al-Awda Hospital. The recent airstrikes have intensified concerns over civilian safety and the humanitarian conditions in Gaza as international pressure mounts for increased aid access and protective measures for displaced residents. (ILKHA)