The Israeli military has publicly accepted responsibility for an artillery strike on the al-Mawasi area in southern Gaza, which reportedly killed one Palestinian and injured 30 others. The strike occurred on Sunday, hours after a separate incident claimed 31 Palestinian lives near a new aid distribution center in Rafah, as reported by the Hamas-run Civil Defence agency. Through their investigation, BBC Verify uncovered additional footage revealing a strike in the nearby city of Khan Younis that had not been communicated by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) until they were approached for comments.
Israeli Military Acknowledges Artillery Strike in Gaza After BBC Investigation
Israeli Military Acknowledges Artillery Strike in Gaza After BBC Investigation
In a rare admission, the Israeli army confirmed a strike in southern Gaza that resulted in fatalities and injuries, following a probe by BBC Verify.
Initially, the IDF did not acknowledge the strike; however, they later revealed it was a consequence of "technical and operational errors," stating that their artillery fire, intended for a specific target, had deviated and mistakenly impacted the Mawasi area. The IDF's admission is unusual, as they have scarcely recognized operational mistakes throughout the ongoing war in Gaza that began in October 2023. An analysis by BBC Verify indicated that this was only the fourth instance in which the IDF acknowledged such mistakes during the current military actions.
The footage analyzed by BBC Verify emerged late Sunday and depicted chaotic scenes with blood-stained bodies amidst dust clouds, capturing the trauma of residents who had taken refuge in tents. The strike hit a location where many internally displaced Palestinians were sheltering, contributing to the growing humanitarian crisis, as the UN estimates that 90% of Gaza's population of 2.1 million has been dislocated by the conflict.
Kuwaiti Field Hospital reported the casualties from the al-Mawasi strike, confirming one death and 30 injuries. Initially, there were incorrect links made between the footage from Khan Younis and the deadly incident near the aid distribution site. However, BBC Verify's geolocation work revealed that the Khan Younis event occurred approximately 4.5 kilometers from Rafah, prompting clarification from the IDF that they did conduct warning shots but denied direct gunfire.
The incident sparked a dispute involving the BBC and the White House, particularly over comments made by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, who inaccurately suggested the BBC retracted its coverage concerning the Rafah killings. The BBC asserted the accuracy of its reports, clarifying that there was no retraction.
The backdrop of this tragic incident is Israel's military campaign in Gaza, which was initiated in retaliation for a Hamas attack that killed around 1,200 people and led to 251 hostages being taken. The ongoing violence has escalated, resulting in at least 54,607 deaths in Gaza, including 4,335 since Israel intensified its offensive on March 18, as reported by the Gaza health ministry.
The footage analyzed by BBC Verify emerged late Sunday and depicted chaotic scenes with blood-stained bodies amidst dust clouds, capturing the trauma of residents who had taken refuge in tents. The strike hit a location where many internally displaced Palestinians were sheltering, contributing to the growing humanitarian crisis, as the UN estimates that 90% of Gaza's population of 2.1 million has been dislocated by the conflict.
Kuwaiti Field Hospital reported the casualties from the al-Mawasi strike, confirming one death and 30 injuries. Initially, there were incorrect links made between the footage from Khan Younis and the deadly incident near the aid distribution site. However, BBC Verify's geolocation work revealed that the Khan Younis event occurred approximately 4.5 kilometers from Rafah, prompting clarification from the IDF that they did conduct warning shots but denied direct gunfire.
The incident sparked a dispute involving the BBC and the White House, particularly over comments made by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, who inaccurately suggested the BBC retracted its coverage concerning the Rafah killings. The BBC asserted the accuracy of its reports, clarifying that there was no retraction.
The backdrop of this tragic incident is Israel's military campaign in Gaza, which was initiated in retaliation for a Hamas attack that killed around 1,200 people and led to 251 hostages being taken. The ongoing violence has escalated, resulting in at least 54,607 deaths in Gaza, including 4,335 since Israel intensified its offensive on March 18, as reported by the Gaza health ministry.
