At least 40 Palestinians have died and another 60 injured during an Israeli strike on the tent encampment in southern Gaza, local emergency authorities reported. The early Tuesday attack hit at least 20 tents in the al-Mawasi area of Khan Younis, which housed displaced Palestinians.

Overcrowded Camps Face Deadly Strikes

The al-Mawasi area had been overpopulated with Palestinians taking shelter in tents after they were displaced in this ongoing conflict. Israeli forces had branded this coastal region a ‘safe zone’ while carrying out ground operations in Khan Younis and its environs, reaching as far as Rafah. Be that as it may, the airstrike began to make craters as deep as 9 meters (30 feet) in this camp. It was in a place where rescuers struggled to find survivors.

Hamas Denies Presence Of Fighters In Camp

The Israeli authorities claimed the air strike targeted Hamas terrorists operating from within a command centre embedded in the humanitarian zone and had carried out attacks against Israeli troops and civilians. On X, formerly called Twitter, the Israel Foreign Ministry contended that “numerous steps were taken to mitigate the risk of harming civilians.”

However, ‘Hamas’, the governing body in Gaza, denied having any fighters in that area. In a statement, Hamas said, “The resistance has denied several times that any of its members exist within civilian gatherings or use these places for military purposes.”

Schools Closed Amid Ongoing Conflict

Meanwhile, a new academic year was launched officially on Monday in the Palestinian territories, but all schools in the Gaza Strip stay closed because of an 11-month conflict with no sign of a ceasefire yet. As many as 90 percent of schools in Gaza have been either destroyed or damaged during the Israeli offensive, the Palestinian Education Ministry said.

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency, (UNRWA) operating about half of Gaza’s schools, has turned many into shelters for thousands of families. UNRWA fears that the extended shutdown will have a lasting effect on the education and future opportunities of the children. Juliette Touma, Communications Director for UNRWA, warned of the risk of these children becoming a ‘lost generation’ following the discontinuation of school.

Evacuations And Ongoing Bombings

Besides the airstrike at the tent camp, two other central Gaza airstrikes by Israel on Monday resulted in seven fatalities. Another in Khan Younis claimed the life of one man. In response, anti-tank rockets and mortar rounds were launched against Israeli forces by the armed wings of ‘Hamas’ and ‘Islamic Jihad’ as fighting persists.

The Israeli authorities have also issued new orders to vacate to the northern Gaza Strip residents, warning them to leave their homes in the wake of rocket attacks aimed at southern Israel. Numerous Palestinians in the region have been displaced numerous times, some driven to flight upwards of 10 times since hostilities began.

Health And Humanitarian Crisis

As the violence continues, health officials in Gaza warn of worsening humanitarian conditions. ‘The United Nations’ has called for families in the northern Gaza Strip to bring children under the age of 10 to medical facilities to be vaccinated against polio. However, ongoing fighting has severely disrupted the provision of health services and all types of necessities for the 2.3 million residents of Gaza.

The deepening crisis in Gaza has left the majority of its residents displaced, seeking shelter against an increasingly unfriendly environment. As far as can be seen, with no end in sight, both sides remain locked in a devastating cycle of attack and retaliation, while civilians bear the brunt of the conflict.