Gaza agency says Israeli strike kills 40 in humanitarian zone

AL-MAWASI, Palestinian Territories Gaza's civil defence agency said an Israeli strike on Sept 10 on a humanitarian zone in the Palestinian territory killed 40 people, while Israel said it had targeted a Hamas command centre in the area.

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The strike hit Al-Mawasi - in Gaza's main southern city of Khan Younis which was designated a safe zone by the Israeli military early in the war, with tens of thousands of displaced Palestinians seeking refuge there.

Israel's military has occasionally carried out operations in and around the area, including a strike in July that it said killed Hamas military chief Mohammed Deif, and which the Gaza health authorities said killed over 90 people.

Gaza civil defence official Mohammed al-Mughair said 40 bodies and 60 wounded were taken to nearby hospitals following the strike in the early hours of Sept 10.

"Our crews are still working to recover 15 missing people as a result of targeting the tents of the displaced in Mawasi, Khan Younis," Mr Mughair told AFP.

In another statement, civil defence spokesman Mahmoud Basal said people sheltering in the camp had not been warned of the strike, adding that a shortage of tools and equipment was hindering rescue operations.