Israeli Airstrike on Gaza Humanitarian Zone Kills at Least 19, Injures 60

An Israeli airstrike on a crowded tent camp in a Gaza humanitarian zone has killed at least 19 people and injured 60 others, according to officials in the Palestinian enclave. The strike, which occurred on Tuesday, targeted a area full of displaced Palestinians from across Gaza, with entire families wiped out and many bodies buried in the sand.

The Gaza Health Ministry confirmed the death toll, saying it may rise as more bodies are recovered. The Civil Defense first responders had initially reported at least 40 people killed. However, the Israeli military disputed the death toll, saying it targeted "senior" Hamas militants operating a "command and control center" in the area.

Images from the site showed deep craters left by the strike, with emergency responders searching for survivors using flashlights. The strike hit an area designated as a humanitarian zone for Gaza residents to evacuate to as the Israeli military launched its ground assault on the enclave.

The Israeli military said it took "numerous steps" to mitigate civilian harm, but did not say whether it issued any warnings in advance of the strike. Hamas denied Israeli claims that its members were present in the area or were using it as a base for operations.

The strike is one of the deadliest yet in Mawasi, a humanitarian zone housing hundreds of thousands of Palestinians displaced from across Gaza. The enclave's health officials say over 40,900 people have been killed in Gaza since Israel launched its offensive on October 7.