Live updates from Israel and Gaza: Hamas military was the main target of an attack that killed 90 people

July 16, 2024

(NEW YORK) — As the war between Israel and Hamas continues, efforts to secure the release of hostages kidnapped by the terrorist organization continue, and Israeli forces have launched an attack on Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip.

July 13, 2024, 4:36 p.m. EDT
‘No absolute certainty’ that Hamas commander was killed in deadly attack, Netanyahu says

Israel has not yet confirmed whether two Hamas officials, including military chief Mohammed Deif, were also killed in Saturday’s attack, in which 90 Palestinians were killed, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a press conference.

“There is no absolute certainty yet that the two have been eliminated, but I want to assure you that one way or another we will reach the entire top of Hamas,” Netanyahu said.

Netanyahu said he had been briefed on the type of weapons to be used and the expected “collateral damage” and confirmed that Israel did not believe there were any hostages being held in the area before giving the green light for the attack.

“Why should we risk leaking something? Suppose something were to leak out, Deif and his deputy would disappear in a second. We will inform our American friends if necessary,” Netanyahu said.

When asked why he did not inform the US about the attack in advance, Netanyahu said he wanted to avoid an information leak.

-Anna Burd of ABC News

July 13, 2024, 4:14 p.m. EDT
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights condemns attacks by Israeli forces on humanitarian zones in Gaza

The United Nations Office for Human Rights has condemned the use of weapons by the Israeli Defense Forces in populated areas of the Gaza Strip, including humanitarian zones, just hours after an attack killed 90 Palestinians.

“The latest attack and casualties followed closely on the heels of another massive attack on the north that lasted a week and resulted in further destruction and casualties,” the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said in a statement.

The UN said that the use of weapons by Israeli forces in densely populated areas “indicates a pattern of deliberate violation and disregard of the principles of distinction, proportionality and caution (of international humanitarian law), despite overwhelming evidence that these means and methods have caused disproportionate harm to the civilian population and damage to civilian infrastructure.”

“The use of such weapons in an area from which the IDF is attempting to evacuate the population shows a gross disregard for the safety of civilians. Even if members of armed Palestinian groups were to take advantage of the presence of civilians in these areas to protect themselves from attack, which would violate international humanitarian law, this does not relieve the IDF of its obligation to respect these basic humanitarian principles of proportionality, distinction and caution,” the UN said.

July 13, 2024, 3:14 p.m. EDT
Death toll from Israeli attack on Khan Younis rises to 90

The death toll from Israel’s deadly attack on Al Mawasi west of the southern city of Khan Younis has now risen to 90 dead and 300 injured, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.

Israel had previously admitted that the attack took place within the expanded humanitarian zone.