An Israeli strike targeting a Hamas commander, on Tuesday, has seen dozens of people killed in the Jabalya refugee camp in northern Gaza.
The Jabalya refugee camp is said to be the largest refugee camp in Gaza, home to thousands of civilians.
Israel in its aim to destroy Hamas, the Palestinian militant group, has intensified its bombardment in the area.
Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry revealed that fifty people were killed and one hundred and fifty people were wounded.
A nearby hospital, however, stated that it received 400 casualties, including 120 dead.
According to a statement by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), the air strike targeted and killed Ibrahim Biari, whom it described as one of the Hamas commanders responsible for the October 7 attack on Israel, which left 1,400 people dead and hundreds taken hostage.
IDF added that the strike damaged Hamas’ command and control in the area and eliminated a large number of terrorists who were with Biari.
Hamas has however strongly denied the presence of one of its leaders in the refugee camp and has accused Israel of attempting to justify what the group described as a “heinous crime against safe civilians, children, and women in Jabalya camp”.
Richard Hecht, IDF spokesperson, countered the accusations saying Hamas is always “hiding, as they do, behind civilians”.
Humanitarian groups have condemned Israel’s attack on the refugee camp, saying the air raid should be a “wake-up call” to world leaders to secure a ceasefire in Gaza