, updated
At least 71 Palestinians have been killed and nearly 300 injured in an Israeli airstrike on a designated humanitarian zone on Saturday, the Gazan health ministry has said.
The strike was targeting Hamas military chief Mohammed Deif who has been described as one of the masterminds behind the October 7 attacks.
Israel, however, is unclear whether or not he was actually killed in the airstrike on the Al-Mawasi area today.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told a press conference: ‘Israel attacked Gaza today in an attempt to eliminate Mohammed Deif and his deputy, Rafa Salama.’
He added: ‘There is no certainty that the two were eliminated.’
Displaced people sheltering in the area said their tents were torn down by the force of the strike which is one of the deadliest in recent weeks.
‘I couldn’t even tell where I was or what was happening,’ said Sheikh Youssef, a resident of …