Israeli Strike on Gaza Targets Top Hamas Leaders, Leaves 71 Dead

An Israeli airstrike on southern Gaza killed 71 people and injured hundreds. The strike aimed at Mohammed Deif, Hamas' military leader, who is believed to be behind the October 7 attack in southern Israel. The attack exacerbates the already dire humanitarian conditions in the Gaza Strip.

An Israeli attack on the south of the Gaza Strip on Saturday killed 71 people and injured scores, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. The strike targeted Mohammed Deif, head of Hamas' military wing, who is believed to have orchestrated the October 7 assault on southern Israel that claimed around 1,200 lives.

The raid also aimed at Rafa Salama, another senior Hamas official. Details about the two targets' fates remain unclear, said an Israeli official, who spoke on condition of anonymity pending a formal announcement.

The Gaza Health Ministry reported that at least 289 others were injured. Many of the casualties were taken to Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis. Associated Press journalists there counted over 40 bodies and reported an attack that comprised multiple strikes.

The strike's precise location remains uncertain, particularly concerning if it landed within Muwasi, a designated humanitarian zone. The coastal strip has become refuge for hundreds of thousands of Palestinians displaced by the ongoing conflict.

Israel's military campaign follows the October 7 incursion by Hamas militants into southern Israel, which killed around 1,200 people and led to the abduction of approximately 250. Israeli ground offensives and bombardments in Gaza have since resulted in over 38,300 deaths and 88,000 injuries, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. Over 80% of Gaza's 2.3 million residents have been forced to flee their homes, now living in dire conditions in makeshift camps.