The IDF told the New York Times that Friday's airstrike in Nuseirat, central Gaza, which killed eight Palestinians, was aimed at Islamic Jihad terrorists. The military acknowledged claims that civilians were hit and said the results are under review. Hamas called the attack 'an ugly massacre'.
The IDF confirmed early Saturday morning to the New York Times that Friday's airstrike in the Nuseirat refugee camp, which killed eight Palestinians, was targeted at Islamic Jihad operatives. The military acknowledged reports of civilian casualties and said the results are under review. The strike took place during a funeral procession for Islamic Jihad operative Taher al-Wahad, as earlier reported by The Zioneer.
The Zioneer’s coverage began on Friday at 17:05 Jerusalem, when initial reports from the Palestinian-affiliated outlet Abu Ali Express stated that an Israeli UAV struck participants at al-Wahad’s funeral, killing four people. The death toll rose rapidly to five, then to seven with names released, and finally settled at eight killed and twenty wounded. The IDF had not commented until this morning.
The Zioneer has previously reported on Israeli strikes targeting Islamic Jihad commanders, including a June 7 strike that eliminated four commanders in Gaza City and a June 8 strike that killed three PIJ operatives in central Gaza. The Nuseirat camp has been a frequent site of IDF operations.
The IDF has not yet released the identities of the operatives it says were targeted, nor provided evidence to support the claim. The military’s review of civilian casualties is ongoing. Hamas has condemned the strike as an 'ugly massacre.'
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