Israeli warplanes dropped three large bombs on displaced people’s tents in southern Gaza, resulting in at least 19 deaths and many injuries. Twenty-two people are missing and presumed vaporized by the blast. Israel claimed the strikes targeted Hamas militants, but Palestinians and aid groups condemned the attack as a war crime.
The bombs caused three enormous craters, leading to questions about the use of such heavy munitions in a densely populated area. Witnesses described the devastation caused by the bombs, with one survivor mentioning that the tent structures were not the intended target for such powerful explosives.
Analysis suggests that US-made MK-84 bombs, weighing 2,000lbs, were used by Israel in the attack. The heavy ordnance creates intense pressure waves that can cause widespread destruction and casualties in a radius of hundreds of meters. The displacement tents where the bombs landed were part of a designated humanitarian “safe zone” where thousands of displaced people sought refuge from ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Despite previous attacks on al-Mawasi, people remained in the area due to limited options for safety elsewhere in Gaza. The attack on Tuesday was the most severe, resulting in numerous casualties and further destabilizing the already vulnerable population. The international community has raised concerns about the use of such large munitions in a civilian-populated area and the need for accountability for potential war crimes.
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