Israel conducted intense airstrikes and artillery bombardment early Thursday in the al-Mawasi area west of Rafah city, part of the southern Gaza Strip, according to the official Palestinian news agency WAFA.
The strikes, carried out "by air, land and sea," targeted a coastal tent town that Israel had designated as a safe zone for Palestinians. Despite this designation, the area remains home to thousands of civilians living in dire conditions.
The United Nations expressed skepticism about the safety of such zones, noting that previous Israeli airstrikes have targeted areas where civilians were told to seek refuge. "Al-Mawasi is a poorly planned attempt to impose a solution for people who have been displaced," the UN stated.
Throughout the ongoing genocidal war in Gaza, Israel has asserted the existence of safe zones and urged Palestinians to seek shelter there. However, according to several UN officials, these areas have not provided adequate sanctuary for displaced Gazans. Israeli military aggression, characterized by indiscriminate airstrikes and artillery fire, has caused widespread destruction in regions previously deemed safe, including cities like Rafah and Khan Yunis in southern Gaza.
WAFA reported that Israeli navy boats also fired heavy machine guns into western Rafah on Thursday, adding to the escalation in violence.
The Israeli war has taken a heavy toll, with at least 37,232 Palestinians killed, predominantly women and children, and another 85,037 injured. Over 1.7 million people have been displaced within Gaza since the outbreak of hostilities in October last year.