After deadly attack on displaced Gaza residents, Israel’s defense minister orders further attacks on Hamas leader

JERUSALEM

Following an attack on camps housing displaced Gaza residents that killed around 90 people and injured hundreds, Israel’s Defense Minister on Saturday ordered the army to continue targeted attacks on Hamas leaders and to increase operational readiness in all “battle zones.”

In a security assessment meeting following the attack on Al-Mawasi west of Khan Younis, Yoav Gallant ordered “the continuation of targeted operations against Hamas leaders and increased operational readiness in all combat zones,” the state broadcasting authority reported.

According to the agency, Chief of General Staff Herzi Halevi, head of the Shin Bet security service Ronen Bar and other senior security officials attended the meeting.

After the deadly attack, the Israel Hayom newspaper claimed, without any evidence, that the main objective of the airstrike was to eliminate Mohammed Deif, the commander-in-chief of the Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas.

“It is believed that Deif was most likely injured in the attack, but military officials are awaiting the outcome,” it said.

The Israeli army radio station claimed that the attack was directed against an “important figure” in Hamas, but the outcome was unknown.

But Hamas said in a statement that Israeli media claims that they were targeting Deif were “unfounded.”

It further said that the Israeli accusations were aimed at “covering up the extent of the cruel massacre committed by the (Israeli) occupation.”

Israel has ignored a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire and is facing international criticism for its ongoing brutal offensive on Gaza since the Hamas attack on October 7.

Since then, more than 38,400 Palestinians have been killed, mostly women and children, and nearly 88,500 injured, according to local health authorities.

More than nine months after the start of Israel’s war, large parts of the Gaza Strip lie in ruins and are plagued by a crippling blockade of food, clean water and medicine.

Israel is accused of genocide by the International Court of Justice. In its latest ruling, Israel was ordered to immediately cease its military operation in the southern city of Rafah, where more than a million Palestinians had sought refuge from the war before the May 6 invasion.

*Written by Rania Abu Shamala​​​​​​​

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