At least 22 killed in Gaza City camp mosque strike, hospital official reports
At least 22 people were killed on Saturday in a strike that hit a makeshift mosque within a displacement camp in west Gaza City, according to a hospital official treating the casualties. Dr. Amjad Elewa, head of the emergency room at Al-Ahli Hospital, reported that 20 men were killed immediately in the strike on the field mosque in Al Shati camp, while two more succumbed to their injuries on Sunday.
Gaza’s Civil Defense spokesman, Mahmoud Basal, explained that the bombing occurred during the noon prayer. He emphasized that all the injuries were severe, necessitating amputation operations. Video footage from the scene showed bodies on prayer mats, with many of the dead and wounded missing limbs.
The UN Human Rights Office addressed the incident in its Saturday briefing, stating that around 1:00 PM, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) reportedly struck a makeshift mosque in the Ash Al Shati Refugee Camp, west Gaza City. The timing of the strike, shortly after the noon prayer, meant many people were still inside or near the mosque.
The IDF has not yet commented on the incident, and no prior warning was reported for this attack. The UN OHCHR also referenced another Israeli strike on a displacement camp in southern Gaza, which Israel claimed targeted Hamas’ military chief, allegedly responsible for the October 7 attacks.
In summary, the strike on the makeshift mosque during noon prayer resulted in the deaths of 22 people, with severe injuries requiring amputations. The UN highlighted the timing and lack of warning, while the IDF has remained silent on the incident.