“Al-Mawasi has been designated by Israel as a safe zone for Palestinians escaping the conflict in Gaza.
The Kuwait and Nasser Hospitals are struggling to manage the influx of dead and injured civilians, according to the ministry.
Hamas rejected Israeli allegations of targeting Deif and Salama, denouncing the deaths as a ‘horrific massacre.’
‘The occupation’s claims of targeting leaders are false and have been debunked before,’ a statement read.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu received ongoing updates on the strike on Deif, according to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). Netanyahu will hold a security assessment with Israeli forces later today, the PMO added.
Little is known about Deif. Born in the 1960s, he orchestrated multiple bombings in 1996 that killed 65 people in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, aiming to disrupt peace efforts. Israel claims he was targeted in an airstrike in southern Gaza, resulting in at least 71 Palestinian deaths, local authorities report.
Mohammed Deif, leader of Hamas’ military wing, was reportedly targeted in Al-Mawasi, a displacement camp west of Khan Younis, an Israeli security official told CNN.
The Israeli military is verifying if Deif was killed, along with Rafe Salama, head of the Khan Younis brigade.
The strikes caused devastation in the area, with at least 71 dead and nearly 300 injured reported by the Gaza Health Ministry.
The strikes hit an area where displaced people sought shelter, the ministry said. Videos show locals and rescue teams trying to free trapped individuals.
Mohammed Diab Ibrahim al-Masri, also known as El Deif (‘the Guest’), has evaded capture by moving nightly among different homes to avoid detection and previous Israeli attempts on his life.
In 2014, an Israeli strike killed his wife, seven-month-old son, and three-year-old daughter.
In May, the International Criminal Court sought arrest warrants for Deif and other senior Hamas figures, linking them to the October 7 attacks that killed approximately 1,200 Israelis.
This story is developing and will be updated as more information becomes available.”
