Officials say 71 killed, hundreds injured in Gaza refugee camp strike

Palestinian medics reported that at least 71 people have been killed and hundreds injured in an Israeli airstrike on a refugee camp in southern Gaza.

The Hamas-controlled health authorities in Gaza said on Saturday that at least 289 people were injured in the attack on the Al-Mawasi camp when tents for displaced persons were hit, with many severely wounded.

Israeli media reported that the target of the strike was Mohammed Deif, the leader of Hamas' military wing in Gaza. It is unclear whether Deif was hit, and the Israeli army has not commented.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry said it was investigating the airstrike and added that, "in view of the developments in Gaza," Defence Minister Yoav Gallant conducted an assessment of the operational situation along with military and intelligence chiefs.

One of Israel's central aims in the current conflict is to capture or kill Deif and the Hamas leader in the Gaza Strip, Yehya al-Sinwar. The third most senior Hamas leader in Gaza, Marwan Issa, was reportedly killed in March.

According to the Palestinian news agency Wafa, there were several fierce attacks in Gaza early on Saturday. Staff at the Nasser Hospital reported a shortage of beds to accommodate the large number of injured following the attacks.

The Israeli military said on Saturday that operations were continuing throughout the Gaza Strip, including in Gaza City. In the southern city of Rafah, Israeli forces destroyed numerous tunnels on Friday and killed several members of Hamas.