Palestinians report deaths after Israeli attack in southern Gaza

An Israeli attack in the south of the Gaza Strip has claimed the lives of at least five Palestinians, including three minors, and injured a further 40, Palestinian medical and other sources reported on Tuesday.

The Palestinian news agency WAFA reported that Israeli forces had bombed tents sheltering displaced people in the al-Mawasi area near the Mediterranean coast.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said they were investigating the reports, which could not be independently verified. The IDF insists that it seeks to avoid civilian casualties in all its actions.

The IDF also reported recently killing three important members of terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip, including a Palestinian man directly involved in the October 7, 2023, attack in which 1,200 people were killed in Israel and a further 250 taken hostage.