Israeli attacks on Al-Maghazi refugee camp

{{Infobox civilian attack

| title = Israeli attacks on Al-Maghazi refugee camp

| partof = the Gaza war and genocide

| map = {{location map

| Israel gaza

| lat_deg = 31.421358

| lon_deg = 34.385375

| label = Al-Maghazi

| label_size = 100

| caption =

| border = none

| float = center

}}

| map_caption = Location within the Gaza Strip

| location = Maghazi camp, central Gaza Strip

| date = 5 November, 24 December 2023

| coordinates = {{coord|31|25|16.89|N|34|23|7.35|E|region:PS-GZA|display=inline,title}}

| timezone =

| target = Maghazi refugee camp

| type = Airstrike

| weapons =

| fatalities = 190+ civilians

| perps = {{military|Israel}}

}}

Since the outbreak of the Gaza war on 7 October 2023, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has conducted numerous airstrikes in densely populated Palestinian refugee camps in both the Gaza Strip and West Bank.{{Cite web |title=Amid Increasingly Dire Humanitarian Situation in Gaza, Secretary-General Tells Security Council Hamas Attacks Cannot Justify Collective Punishment of Palestinian People {{!}} UN Press |url=https://press.un.org/en/2023/sc15462.doc.htm |access-date=2023-12-25 |website=press.un.org}} Al-Maghazi refugee camp was struck several times.

17 October 2023 attack

Israeli forces conducted an airstrike on a school run by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in the Al-Maghazi refugee camp, killing six people and injuring dozens, including UNRWA staff. The school building sustained a severe structural damage.{{Cite web |last=K |first=S. |title=Gaza: UNRWA School Sheltering Displaced Families is Hit |url=https://www.un.org/unispal/document/gaza-unrwa-school-sheltering-displaced-families-is-hit/ |access-date=2023-12-25 |website=Question of Palestine |language=en-US}}

5 November 2023 attack

The Israel Defense Forces conducted an airstrike in the al-Maghazi refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip. According to the Gaza Health Ministry, at least 45 people were killed, mostly women and children. The IDF did not confirm that the camp had been hit with an Israeli airstrike and said its airstrikes were "specific intelligence-based strikes, specifically against terrorist elements."{{Cite web|url=https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-11-05-2023-eb1dfa6afe40ba267024c7d819e17194|title=Warplanes strike Gaza refugee camp as Israel rejects US push for a pause in fighting|date=November 5, 2023|website=AP News|first1= Najib|last1=Jobain|first2=Wafaa|last2=Shura|first3=Kareem|last3=Chehayeb|access-date=November 5, 2023|archive-date=November 5, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231105065453/https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-11-05-2023-eb1dfa6afe40ba267024c7d819e17194|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/arab-world-us-split-gaza-ceasefire-israeli-offensive-presses-2023-11-05/|title=Palestinian president presses US to secure Gaza ceasefire as refugee camp struck|first1=Nidal|last1=Al-Mughrabi|first2=Ali|last2=Sawafta|first3=Simon|last3=Lewis|first4=Nidal|last4=Al-Mughrabi|newspaper=Reuters|date=November 5, 2023|access-date=2023-11-05|archive-date=2023-11-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231105135247/https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/arab-world-us-split-gaza-ceasefire-israeli-offensive-presses-2023-11-05/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web |title=Israel bombs al-Maghazi refugee camp, killing dozens, Gaza officials say |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/11/5/israel-bombs-al-maghazi-refugee-camp-killing-dozens-gaza-officials-say |access-date=2023-11-05 |website=Al Jazeera |language=en |archive-date=2023-11-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231105174012/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/11/5/israel-bombs-al-maghazi-refugee-camp-killing-dozens-gaza-officials-say |url-status=live }}{{cite news |title=At least 45 killed at Al-Maghazi refugee camp |work=BBC News|first1=Rushdi|last1=Abualouf|first2=Kathryn|last2=Armstrong|date=5 November 2023 |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-67326895 |access-date=9 November 2023 |archive-date=9 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231109102327/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-67326895 |url-status=live }} The airstrike caused severe damage to neighboring homes and infrastructure. The Gaza Health Ministry stated that more than 30 bodies were brought to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir Al-Balah following the airstrike.{{cite web | url=https://www.arabnews.pk/node/2403471/middle-east | title=Over 30 killed in Israeli bombing on Al-Maghazi camp in Gaza — health ministry|work=Arab News Pakistan | date=5 November 2023 | access-date=5 November 2023 | archive-date=5 November 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231105174200/https://www.arabnews.pk/node/2403471/middle-east | url-status=live }}

6 December 2023 attack

On 6 December 2023 at about 21:00, Israeli forces bombed a residential building in Barkat Al-Waz area, killing 18 Palestinians, mostly children, and injuring 20 others.{{Cite web |title=Israel-Hamas war: List of key events, day 62 |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/12/7/israel-hamas-war-list-of-key-events-day-62 |access-date=2023-12-25 |website=Al Jazeera |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2023-12-08 |title=Hostilities in the Gaza Strip and Israel {{!}} Flash Update #62 [EN/AR/HE] - occupied Palestinian territory {{!}} ReliefWeb |url=https://reliefweb.int/report/occupied-palestinian-territory/hostilities-gaza-strip-and-israel-flash-update-62-enarhe |access-date=2023-12-25 |website=reliefweb.int |language=en}}

24 and 25 December 2023 strike

On 24 and 25 December 2023, Israeli forces bombed the camp, killing more than 100 people.{{Cite web |date=2023-12-25 |title=Israeli airstrikes on Christmas Day kill at least 100 people as Netanyahu vows to expand campaign |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/israel-airstrike-gaza-refugee-camp-b2469220.html |access-date=2023-12-25 |website=The Independent |language=en}}{{Cite news |title=Gaza Medics Say Death Toll in Maghazi Refugee Camp Strike Rises to 106; IDF Refuses to Comment |language=en |work=Haaretz|date=25 December 2023 |url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2023-12-25/ty-article/.premium/hamas-reports-70-killed-in-airstrike-on-gaza-refugee-camp-idf-incident-under-review/0000018c-a005-d1f1-adbf-bedfd84e0000 |access-date=2023-12-28}} Gaza Health Ministry spokesperson Ashraf al-Qudra described the attack as a "massacre being committed on crowded residential square".{{Cite web |title='Massacre' as Israel steps up Gaza bombardment for Christmas |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/12/25/israeli-forces-massacre-at-least-70-people-in-gazas-maghazi-refugee-camp |access-date=2023-12-28 |website=Al Jazeera |language=en}} The Associated Press reported on 25 December they had seen records from the nearby Al-Aqsa Hospital which indicated that at least 106 people had been killed in the attack.{{Cite web |date=2023-12-25 |title=Egypt floats plan to end Israel-Hamas war. The proposal gets a cool reception |url=https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-12-25-2023-151faf920facb9910a254c2987e00d5f |access-date=2023-12-28 |website=AP News |language=en}}

An IDF spokesperson stated that the strike "apparently resulted in harm to those not involved" and that "the IDF regrets the harm to those not involved."{{Cite web |date=2023-12-28 |title=IDF admits Christmas Eve Gaza airstrike killed dozens of innocents |url=https://www.jpost.com/israel-hamas-war/article-779836 |access-date=2023-12-28 |website=The Jerusalem Post|language=en-US}} An IDF official said that the extensive death toll was due to incorrect munitions being used in the attack.{{cite web |title=Improper munition said cause of high death toll in strike on Gaza's Maghazi |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/improper-munition-said-cause-of-high-death-toll-in-strike-on-gazas-maghazi/ |work=The Times of Israel|date=28 December 2023 |access-date=29 December 2023}}

2024 attacks

Fifteen people were killed in an airstrike on a home in Al-Maghazi on 1 January.{{cite web |title=Death toll climbs to 15 in Israeli bombing of home in Maghazi |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/1/1/israel-hamas-war-live-new-year-in-gaza-under-non-stop-israeli-bombardment?update=2591013 |website=Al Jazeera |access-date=1 January 2024}} On 5 January 2024, it was reported that Israel has increased violence towards camp residents. People were being shot at and crushed by tanks. Al Jazeera reported that an Israeli sniper shot dead a mother and her infant, "piercing the baby’s skull with a bullet".{{cite web |title=Maghazi refugee camp resident says Israeli tanks crushed people |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/1/5/israel-war-on-gaza-live-israel-attacks-bombard-khan-younis-rafah?update=2599164 |access-date=5 January 2024 |website=Al Jazeera}} On 16 January, sixteen bodies were recovered from under rubble following multiple days of airstrikes.{{cite web |title=Civil defence recovers 13 bodies in Maghazi camp |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/1/16/israels-war-on-gaza-live-at-least-132-killed-in-gaza-in-last-24-hours?update=2624718 |website=Al Jazeera |access-date=17 January 2024}} Multiple people were reportedly killed and injured on 29 March.{{cite web |title=Death toll rises from Israeli attack on Maghazi refugee camp |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/3/29/israels-war-on-gaza-live-netanyahu-says-army-preparing-to-enter-rafah?update=2805120 |website=Al Jazeera |access-date=5 April 2024}} At least three people were reportedly killed by an Israeli bombing on 31 March.{{cite web |title=Israeli attack on Maghazi camp kills three Palestinians |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/3/31/israels-war-on-gaza-live-hundreds-killed-in-al-shifa-hospital-siege?update=2808684 |website=Al Jazeera |access-date=8 April 2024}}

On 16 April, health officials reported that an Israeli airstrike killed 13 people, including seven children; one witness stated that, "You are killing children. You are not killing an army or fighters; you are killing children who were peacefully playing in the street.", and another, speaking of "kids dead on the ground", said "They were just playing foosball, and they were martyred."{{cite web |last1=Al-Sawalhi |first1=Mohammad |last2=Khadder |first2=Kareem |last3=Salman |first3=Abeer |last4=Saifi |first4=Zeena |title=At least 13 killed, including 7 children, after strike on Gaza's Al-Maghazi refugee camp |url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/04/16/middleeast/maghazi-refugee-camp-strike-gaza-intl-latam/index.html |website=CNN |date=17 April 2024 |access-date=18 April 2024}}CNN, Israeli precision-guided munition likely killed group of children playing foosball in Gaza, weapons experts say [https://cnn.com/cnn/2024/05/02/middleeast/israeli-precision-guided-munition-maghazi-deaths-intl]{{Dead link|date=November 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Several other people were wounded in the airstrike, with dozens of injured people being sent to the Shuhada al-Aqsa Hospital.{{cite web |last1=Mahmoud |first1=Hani |last2=Najjar |first2=Farah |last3=Mohamed |first3=Edna |title=Israel’s war on Gaza updates: Israeli attack on Gaza police vehicle kills 9 |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/4/16/israels-war-on-gaza-live-israel-vows-response-to-iran |website=Al Jazeera |access-date=24 November 2024 |language=en}}

On 25 June, Israeli forces bombed a house in the Maghazi refugee camp, killing five people, three of which were children.{{Cite web |date=25 June 2024 |title=At least 5 killed in Israeli attack on Maghazi refugee camp |url=https://aje.io/yqahpq?update=2999573 |website=Al Jazeera}}{{Cite web |date=25 June 2024 |title=Five civilians, including three children, killed in Israeli shelling of Central Gaza |url=https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/145271 |website=WAFA Agency}} On 4 July 2024, three people in a car were reportedly killed by an Israeli airstrike — one of the dead had on their UN vest.{{cite web |title=Heavy fighting rocks Gaza as thousands on the move again |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/heavy-fighting-rocks-gaza-as-thousands-on-the-move-again/article68364724.ece |website=The Hindu |access-date=13 July 2024}}{{cite web |last1=Shurafa |first1=Wafaa |title=Israeli strikes kill 6 in Gaza, including kids and UN worker, as truce talks show signs of progress |url=https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-war-news-07-05-2024-d20ff57c3efe9ba8b783f9c5b5891c96# |website=Associated Press |access-date=13 July 2024}}