Israeli forces said they struck at Hamas militants in an area crowded with civilians. The Gazan Health Ministry said at least 19 people were confirmed dead, and more were buried in the rubble.According to The New York Times, Israeli airstrikes targeted a humanitarian area in southern Gaza early Tuesday, causing large craters and reportedly killing or injuring dozens of people, according to Gazan officials. The strikes were said to have targeted three senior Hamas militants who were involved in an attack on Israel on October 7.

The Gaza Health Ministry reported at least 19 confirmed deaths and over 60 injuries, with the possibility of the numbers rising as there were still victims in the area and ambulances were unable to reach them. However, the Israeli military stated that these figures do not align with the information they have, without providing their own estimate.

Videos and images from the scene show craters where tents were previously located, with people searching through rubble and emergency workers digging with shovels. Witnesses in the area said the strike came without warning, causing their tents to shake and fill with smoke.

Marwan Shaath, a civil servant from Rafah who has been sheltering in Al-Mawasi for over three months, described the strike as feeling like an earthquake. Fatoom al-Garra, a widow from Rafah, said she and her children ran for safety from the sounds of horror and a burning smell.

The Israeli military stated that they carried out a precise strike and attempted to minimize the risk to civilians, but did not provide further details. The reason for the discrepancy in casualty numbers between the Health Ministry and Civil Defense is not clear, as official accounts of death tolls often fluctuate in the aftermath of an attack. 

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