IDF Airstrike Targets Hamas Leaders in Gaza, Leaves 71 Dead and Hundreds Injured

In a devastating airstrike early Saturday morning, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) targeted key figures within Hamas in the southern Gaza Strip. The strike, which killed at least 71 Palestinians and injured 289, is reported to have been aimed at Mohammed Deif, the commander of Hamas’s military wing, and Rafa Salameh, the commander of Hamas’s Khan Younis Brigade.

Key Figures Targeted in Deadly Strike

The IDF confirmed that the airstrike targeted Mohammed Deif, who has survived seven assassination attempts and remains at the top of Israel’s most wanted list. Deif, held responsible for numerous attacks and suicide bombings in Israel, was reportedly seriously wounded. Rafa Salameh, another high-ranking Hamas leader, was also killed in the strike.

An IDF spokesperson described Deif and Salameh as masterminds behind the deadly October 7 attack that ignited the nine-month conflict in Gaza. Despite the strike, it remains unclear if Deif survived.

Humanitarian Impact and Escalation

The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza reported the death toll from the airstrike at 71, with 289 injured, marking the deadliest attack in weeks. Many of the wounded were rushed to Nasser Hospital, which is now overwhelmed and facing severe shortages of medical supplies.

The targeted strike occurred in Al-Mawasi, a designated humanitarian area where the Israeli army had urged Palestinians to seek safety following evacuation orders from other regions. The IDF released aerial images of the strike site, claiming it was an operational compound used by Hamas militants. However, these claims were disputed by Hamas, which described the Israeli allegations as false and a means to justify the attack.

Reactions and Political Ramifications

In response to the airstrike, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant held urgent consultations regarding the developments in Gaza. The strike’s impact on ongoing ceasefire negotiations in Doha and Cairo remains uncertain.

Hamas’s media office reported that at least 100 people, including members of the Civil Emergency Service, were killed or wounded in the strike. Sami Abu Zuhri, a senior Hamas official, denied that Deif was present at the site and condemned the attack as an escalation of the conflict. “All the martyrs are civilians, and what happened was a grave escalation of the war of genocide, backed by American support and world silence,” Zuhri stated.

Witness Accounts and Humanitarian Crisis

Witnesses described the attack as unexpected, noting that the area had been calm prior to the strike. Footage showed ambulances navigating through smoke and debris, with displaced residents fleeing in panic. The attack left families devastated, with survivors expressing their anguish over the loss of loved ones.

“They’re all gone, my whole family’s gone… where are my brothers? They’re all gone, they’re all gone. There’s no one left,” a tearful woman recounted, highlighting the human toll of the conflict.

Ongoing Conflict and Historical Context

The airstrike is part of an ongoing conflict that began with a cross-border raid by Hamas-led militants into southern Israel on October 7, resulting in the deaths of 1,200 Israelis and the capture of over 250 hostages. Israel’s retaliatory military action in Gaza has so far claimed more than 38,000 Palestinian lives, according to medical authorities in Gaza.

As the conflict continues, the latest strike underscores the escalating violence and the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, raising questions about the future of peace and stability in the region.

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