Israeli strike on Gaza humanitarian zone kills at least 19 people

ITV News Correspondent Rachel Younger has the latest as an Israeli strike on a humanitarian zone in Gaza has killed at least 19 people

At least 19 people have been killed and dozens more have been injured in an Israeli strike on a designated humanitarian zone in Gaza, Palestinian officials have said.

Israel said it was targeting "significant" Hamas members - allegations which were denied by the militant group.

The Civil Defense - first responders operating under the Hamas-run government - said a tent encampment near Khan Younis in the Al-Mawasi area was struck by at least three missiles in the early hours of Tuesday morning. The area is a designated humanitarian zone.

Gaza's health ministry say they had recovered 19 bodies, and search efforts were ongoing for others. They said the number of dead may rise.

The Civil Defense, who operate under the Hamas-run government, had earlier said 40 people were killed. The Israeli ministry disputed that toll. Neither the ministry nor the Civil Defense immediately responded to a request for comment on the discrepancy of their tolls.

Eyewitnesses reported three large craters at the scene, where first responders were sifting through the rubble with garden tools and their bare hands by the light of mobile phones.

An Associated Press cameraman saw 10 bodies in the morgue at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, including two children and three women. It was one of three medical centres that received casualties.

"We were sleeping, and suddenly it was like a tornado," Samar Moamer told AP at the Nasser Hospital, where she was being treated for injuries. She said one of her daughters was killed and the other was pulled alive from the rubble.

The Israeli military said it had struck Hamas militants who were operating in a command-and-control centre. It said its forces used precise munitions, aerial surveillance, and other means to avoid civilian casualties.

Hamas released a statement denying any militants were in the area, calling Israel's allegations "a blatant lie". Neither Israel nor Hamas provided evidence to substantiate their claims.

Netanyahu's administration blames Hamas for any civilian deaths because the militants often operate in residential areas and are known to position tunnels, rocket launchers and other infrastructure near homes, schools and mosques.

Gaza's Health Ministry says over 40,000 people have been killed in Gaza since the war began, and around 90% of Gaza's population have been displaced, many of them multiple times.

Israeli evacuation orders, which now cover roughly 90% of Gaza, have pushed hundreds of thousands of people into Al-Mawasi refugee camp.

Aid groups have struggled to provide even basic services there, and Israel has occasionally struck targets there despite designating it a humanitarian zone.

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