Israel defends devastating refugee camp strikes, saying civilians caught up in hunt for a Hamas commander are a 'tragedy of war'

Tue, 10/31/2023 - 16:38

A view from the area after Israeli airstrikes on Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza, on October 31, 2023. — A view from the area after an Israeli airstrike on Jabaliya refugee camp in northern Gaza, on October 31, 2023.
Stringer/Anadolu via Getty Images

The Israeli military took responsibility for an airstrike that devastated a Gaza refugee camp on Tuesday.
Israel said it was targeting Hamas operatives, including a militant commander. Palestinian officials said hundreds were killed and injured.
An IDF spokesperson acknowledged the presence of civilians and said this was "the tragedy of war."

Israel's military launched an airstrike on Tuesday targeting Hamas operatives and bases that devastated a refugee camp in Gaza. The strike left mounds of rubble from shattered buildings and a cratered street and, according to Palestinian estimates, killed and injured hundreds.