The Hamas-operate overall health ministry in Gaza says at least 71 Palestinians have been killed in an Israeli air strike on a specified humanitarian place, in an assault which Israel suggests focused senior Hamas leaders.

Extra than 289 men and women were injured, according to the wellbeing ministry’s assertion.

The strike reportedly hit the al-Mawasi space around Khan Younis, which the Israeli navy has specified as a humanitarian zone, urging Palestinians to look for shelter there.

An Israeli formal said the strike specific the head of Hamas’s army wing, Mohammed Deif, in an “open up space” where there were “only Hamas terrorists and no civilians”.

Rafa Salama, the Hamas commander for Khan Younis, was also focused in the strike, the formal stated, calling the intelligence that led to the incident “precise”.

But Hamas mentioned the assert that their leaders had been targets is “untrue”.

“It is not the 1st time Israel promises to focus on Palestinian leaders, only to be tested bogus later on,” the team reported in a statement.

Israel’s Primary Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will keep security talks as a result of the day, his place of work mentioned in accordance to Reuters.

BBC Confirm has analysed footage of the aftermath of the strike, confirming that it took spot inside an spot designated as a humanitarian zone, in accordance to the Israel Defense Forces internet site.

An eyewitness in al-Mawasi informed the BBC that the web-site of the strike appeared like an “earthquake” experienced strike, and movies from the location exhibit smouldering wreckage and bloodied casualties currently being loaded onto stretchers. People can be viewed striving desperately to decide on by way of the rubble of a massive crater with their fingers.

1 of the physicians at a hospital dealing with the aftermath of the attack has told the BBC it is “one of the black days”.

Speaking to Newshour on the BBC Earth Provider, Dr Mohammed Abu Rayya said the the greater part of conditions coming in have been dead, with others struggling from multiple shrapnel wounds.

He mentioned it was like staying in “hell”, including that quite a few of the casualties were being civilians, notably ladies and young children.

Footage from the close by Kuwait discipline hospital confirmed scenes of chaos with individuals getting taken care of on the flooring.

The Nasser clinical advanced in Khan Younis is “confused” and no for a longer time in a position to function, stated British charity Health care Assist for Palestinians (MAP).

On Wednesday, the Israeli armed forces advised all residents of Gaza City to evacuate south to the central Gaza Strip, amid intensified operations in the north.

Mohammed Deif, the head of Hamas’ military wing the al-Qassam Brigades, is a top rated concentrate on for Israel’s armed service.

Deif has around-legendary standing in Gaza immediately after escaping seize and surviving numerous assassination attempts.

He is considered to be 1 of the masterminds guiding the 7 Oct Hamas attack, when about 1,200 Israelis and foreigners – primarily civilians – ended up killed and 251 others ended up taken back to Gaza as hostages.

It led to the big Israeli armed service operation in Gaza which has killed far more than 38,400 Palestinians, in accordance to the Hamas-run well being ministry.

A Hamas formal, cited by Reuters, identified as the assault a “grave escalation” that confirmed Israel was not intrigued in reaching a ceasefire settlement.

The ceasefire negotiations getting held in Qatar and Egypt ended on Friday with out results, the BBC understands.