On December 4, 2024, Israeli forces conducted two consecutive air strikes on al-Mawasi, a designated evacuation and humanitarian zone in Khan Yunis Governorate, southern Gaza, which had been struck multiple times over the course of the Israel–Hamas war. The explosions and the resulting fire that engulfed many refugee shelters resulted in multiple civilian casualties, and extensive damage to refugee accommodations.
Attack
On 4 December 2024, the Israeli Air Force executed two sequential strikes on al-Mawasi beginning prior to 19:20 PSST. The attacks ignited numerous makeshift tents housing displaced civilians, prompting immediate responses from Palestinian Civil Defence crews who attempted to control the fires while conducting rescue operations. Many displaced civilians were still in their tents when the resulting fire began to spread.
Impact
The death toll progressively increased throughout the afternoon. Initial reports indicated 20 fatalities, with Civil Defense spokespersons confirming that children were among the victims. The attacks also resulted in dozens of injuries, with medical teams being overwhelmed in treating severely wounded survivors due to limited medical resources and insufficient staff. As a result, many initial survivors died due to severe burns or from severe injuries caused by the explosions.
The attacks caused severe damage to a wide array of refugee shelters and accommodations, with many being completely destroyed.
See also
- June 2024 Al-Mawasi refugee camp attack
- 13 July 2024 al-Mawasi attack
- September 2024 Al-Mawasi refugee camp attack
References
