13 July 2024 al-Mawasi attack

13 July 2024 al-Mawasi attack
Part of the Israel–Hamas war and the Rafah offensive
An animated GIF of the airstrike released by the Israeli military
Al-Mawasi is located in the Gaza Strip
Al-Mawasi
Al-Mawasi
LocationAl-Mawasi, Khan Yunis, Gaza Strip
Date13 July 2024
TargetMohammed Deif and Rafa Salama
Attack type
Airstrikes
WeaponsEight 2,000-pound bombs, missiles
Deaths90+ Palestinians
Injured300+ Palestinians
Perpetrator Israeli Air Force

On 13 July 2024, Israeli airstrikes hit the Al-Mawasi area near Khan Yunis in the Gaza Strip during the Israel–Hamas war. The attack killed at least 90 Palestinians, among them women and children, and injured over 300.[1][2][3] Israel said that the strike targeted Hamas top leaders.[4] Survivors reported that they were targeted without warning in an area they were told was safe.[5]

Following the Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip, Israel ordered Palestinian civilians there to evacuate to designated humanitarian safe zones, including Al-Mawasi in December 2023.[6] During the attack on 13 July 2024, Israel dropped eight 2,000-pound bombs on al-Mawasi, at least one of which was manufactured in the United States.[7] Israel said that it had targeted and killed the military commander of Hamas, Mohammed Deif, as well as Commander of the Hamas Khan Younis Brigade, Rafa Salama.[8] Hamas denies the death of Deif.[4][9]

Following the airstrikes, Israeli quadcopter aircraft waited for the ambulance and civil defence teams and opened fire as soon as they arrived, according to eyewitnesses, a local journalist and the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor.[10] Two members of the Palestinian Civil Defence were killed by this attack.[11]

The Mawasi attack led to international condemnations of Israel from Arab countries, the European Union and the United Nations.[12] The EU called for an independent investigation and accountability, describing the attack a possible war crime.[13]

  1. ^ Gadzo, Mersiha. "Israel's war on Gaza updates: Israeli strikes on al-Mawasi kill at least 90". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 13 July 2024. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
  2. ^ "IDF says senior Hamas commander Rafa Salama killed in Israeli air strike". BBC News. 14 July 2024. Archived from the original on 1 August 2024. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  3. ^ Levy, Gideon (13 July 2024). "How Many Dead Children in Gaza Is Mohammed Deif Worth?". Haaretz. Archived from the original on 3 August 2024. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
  4. ^ a b Bisset, Victoria; Chamaa, Mohamad El (13 July 2024). "Israel targets Hamas military leader; 71 killed in Mawasi strike, officials say". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Archived from the original on 13 July 2024. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
  5. ^ "Hamas claims military commander alive after Israel airstrike that killed at least 90". New York Post. Associated Press. 14 July 2024. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference ToI was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Lieber, Dov (16 July 2024). "To Target a Top Militant, Israel Rained Down Eight Tons of Bombs". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on 21 July 2024. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
  8. ^ Rasgon, Adam; Boxerman, Aaron (1 August 2024). "Muhammad Deif, a Top Hamas Commander, Is Dead, Israel Says". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 1 August 2024. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  9. ^ Lieber, Dov (14 July 2024). "Israel Seeks Proof of Whether Strike Killed Hamas Military Chief". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on 14 July 2024.
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference eum was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ Cite error: The named reference aj11 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  12. ^ "'Brutal massacre': World reacts to Israel's al-Mawasi attacks".
  13. ^ Cite error: The named reference eu1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).