Details of the Attack
- On Saturday, July 13, Israel conducted airstrikes on a displacement camp in the al-Mawasi designated safe zone in Khan Younis, killing at least 90 people and wounding 300.
- The attack is said to have targeted the “masterminds” behind the October 7 attack: Hamas military chief Mohammed Deif and senior commander Rafa Salama.
- On Sunday, the Israeli military announced that Rafa Salama was killed in the operation.
- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that there is “no absolute certainty” that Mohammed Deif was killed in the strikes, coinciding with Hamas reports that asserted Deif’s survival.
- This is the second major strike in the al-Mawasi area this year, following an attack in May 2024 that killed at least 21 people.
Global Response
- Egypt and Qatar, two key mediators in the ongoing ceasefire negotiations, have both condemned the attack.
- Qatar’s Foreign Ministry described the attack as “a shocking and brutal massacre and a new chapter in the ongoing series of crimes by the occupation against the Palestinian people and humanity as a whole.”
- The Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that finding agreement on a ceasefire will have dire “complications” due to the “ongoing violations against the rights of Palestinian citizens.”
- The attack sparked condemnation from regional leaders and the United Nations.
- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stated he was “shocked and saddened,” underscoring that “international humanitarian law including the principles of distinction, proportionality, and precautions in attack must be upheld at all times.”
- The Jordanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly condemned the attack, stressing the need for “the international community to move immediately and effectively and provide international protection for the Palestinian people.”
- The Saudi Arabian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement condemning “the continuation of genocidal massacres against the Palestinian people at the hands of the Israeli war machine”
- The UAE foreign ministry criticized the attack, restating “the need for an immediate ceasefire to prevent further loss of life.”
Possible Effect on Ceasefire Negotiations
- On Sunday, July 14, mixed reporting showed that Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh had informed international mediators of his intention to withdraw from ceasefire negotiations due to Israel’s “ongoing massacres against unarmed civilians”
- However, senior Hamas official Izzat El-Reshiq later stated that ceasefire negotiations had not been halted.
- Hamas spokesperson Jihad Taha later confirmed with France 24 that ceasefire talks will continue, stating “there is no doubt that the horrific massacres will impact any efforts in the negotiations” but added that “efforts and endeavors of the mediators remain ongoing.”
(Banner image: Palestinian News and Information Agency)
