Israeli military admits excessive munitions caused high death toll in Maghazi
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An Israeli military official has acknowledged that the high death toll resulting from an attack on the Maghazi refugee camp in central Gaza was due to the use of improper munitions.
The raid, which claimed the lives of at least 70 people, utilized munitions deemed inappropriate for a densely populated refugee camp, leading to extensive collateral damage that could have been avoided.
According to the military official speaking to the Israeli public broadcaster Kan, the type of munition deployed did not align with the nature of the attack, emphasizing the regret for the harm caused to those uninvolved. The Israeli army expressed its commitment to learning lessons from the incident.
This statement follows reports that Israel has consistently employed powerful, unguided "dumb bombs" in Gaza, despite the increased risk of civilian casualties. Recent findings from a US intelligence assessment, as reported by CNN, revealed that almost half of the Israeli munitions used were of this type, known for their lower accuracy and heightened potential for civilian harm.
The Israeli military's alleged loosening of standards regarding acceptable civilian harm has also come under scrutiny, contributing to a higher proportion of civilians killed in comparison to previous military assaults. Palestinian authorities report over 21,000 casualties in Israel's assault on Gaza, with more than half being women and children.
The Maghazi incident is part of a series of attacks raising questions about the indiscriminate nature of Israel's bombardment, transforming entire neighbourhoods in Gaza into piles of rubble. Almost 100 people lost their lives in attacks across various locations in Gaza, including a residential block in the Jabalia refugee camp.
As the conflict unfolds, Palestinians in the besieged enclave claim they have nowhere safe to flee from Israel's relentless bombardment.
Aid agencies, including the UN, have decried Israeli targeting of schools, hospitals, and residential areas, labelling the Israeli bombing of Gaza as the most destructive in recent history.