Gaza health officials say at least 71 killed by Israeli attack in ‘safe zone’ | DW News

A strike on al-Mawasi camp in the south of the Gaza Strip on Saturday has killed at least 71 people, the Health Ministry in the Hamas-run Palestinian territory says.

The al-Mawasi area had previously been declared a "safe zone" by the Israeli military.

The Hamas-run health ministry called the attack "a brutal massacre."

The Israeli armed forces say the strike targeted Mohammed Deif, the militant Islamist group's military chief, as well as another top Hamas official.

Hamas has cast doubt on the claim, calling it "nonsense."

Deutsche Well has reached out to the Israeli military for an interview.

The strike comes as the Israeli military continues its campaign in Gaza against Hamas, in retaliation for the October 7 terror attacks in Israel that left some 1,200 people dead, mostly civilians.

Hamas and other Palestinians groups also took 251 hostages, 116 of whom remain in Gaza. The Israeli military says 42 of the remaining hostages in Gaza have died.

Hamas is designated a terrorist organization by the US, Germany, EU, and others.