The death toll is expected to rise as rescuers continue to search for people trapped in the rubble.
advertisementAt least 19 people have been killed and more than 60 wounded in Israeli airstrikes on crowded tent camps housing Palestinians displaced by the war in the Gaza Strip, according to the Gaza Strip’s health ministry.
Local officials reported at least four missiles struck the camp in the humanitarian zone of Muwashi.
The Gaza Civil Defense, the first responders from the Hamas-run government, said the airstrikes had created craters up to 10 metres deep.
Israel denies the Gaza Health Ministry’s death toll, insisting its forces used precision weapons, aerial surveillance and other means to target Hamas militants while avoiding civilians.
Israel says it tries to avoid harming civilians and blames Hamas for the deaths, claiming it operates in residential areas and has installed tunnels, rocket launchers and other infrastructure near homes, schools and mosques.
Meanwhile, Hamas has issued a statement saying there are no armed forces in the area. Neither Israel nor Hamas have provided evidence to support the claim.
Israeli military admits responsibility for killing of US activist
The Israeli military has acknowledged that an American activist killed during a protest in the West Bank last week was likely shot “indirectly and unintentionally” by soldiers.
Israeli forces opened fire on people protesting against settlements in the area.
Israel expressed “deep regret” for the death of Aysenur Ezgi Egi, a 26-year-old activist from Seattle who also held Turkish citizenship, and said a criminal investigation had been launched.
The statement drew sharp criticism from both U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Aysenur’s family.
“Nobody should be shot at for protesting,” Blinken said at a news conference in London when asked about the Israeli investigation.
“Israeli security forces must fundamentally change how they operate in the West Bank,” he added.
Meanwhile, Eygi’s family in the United States released a statement saying: “We are deeply offended by the suggestion that her killing by a trained sniper was in any way intentional. The disregard for human life demonstrated in this investigation is appalling.”
