IDF says it carried out ‘precise’ strike on terrorists in Gaza humanitarian zone amid ‘immediate threat’
Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent
Overnight, Israeli attack helicopters carried out an airstrike on Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad terror operatives at a command center embedded within the Israeli-designated humanitarian zone in central Gaza, the IDF says.
The strike took place in the Deir al-Balah area, reportedly near the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital.
Palestinian media outlets report at least five dead in the strike.
⬅️ شاهد ..
4 شــهداء ومصابون إثر استهداف طائرات الاحتلال خيام النازحين في محيط مستشفى شهــداء الأقصى بمدينة دير البلح وسط قطاع غزة pic.twitter.com/N5KP5xrrai— شبكة فلسطين للحوار (@paldf) September 5, 2024
The military says that the “precise” strike was carried out to remove “an immediate threat.” The site was being used by the terror operatives to plan and carry out attacks against troops and Israel, the IDF says.
To mitigate harm to civilians in the strike, the military says it carried out “many steps,” including using precision munitions, aerial surveillance, and other intelligence.
مروحية الاحتلال تشن غارات جوية استهدفت محيط مستشفى شهداء الأقصى بمدينة دير البلح وسط قطاع غزة#ديوان #اسرائيل #فلسطين #غزه_الآن pic.twitter.com/9tE2vQCGXZ
— ديوان (@DiwanDaily) September 5, 2024
“The Hamas terror organization systematically violates international law, brutally exploiting civilian institutions and the population as a human shield for terror activity,” the military adds.
