The story of a devastating Israeli strike on a displaced persons’ camp in Gaza on May 26, which resulted in the deaths of dozens of Palestinians, including Saleh Mohammed al-Hila’s relatives, highlights the horrors of war for civilians caught in the crossfire. The strike was in retaliation for Hamas rockets fired at central Israel earlier that day. Despite Israel’s claims of precise targeting and avoidance of civilian casualties, the attack on the camp raised questions about the military’s assessments and tactics.
The camp, Kuwaiti Al-Salam Camp 1, had been home to hundreds of families who had been displaced multiple times during the conflict. The targeted structures in the camp included tents and metal sheds used as temporary shelters. Witnesses described the chaos and carnage that ensued after the Israeli bombs struck, causing widespread destruction and loss of life. The strike, which Israel said was aimed at Hamas officials, resulted in numerous civilian casualties within the camp.
As the international community expressed outrage over the attack, questions were raised about the Israeli military’s decision-making process and the precautions taken to prevent civilian harm. The Israeli military maintained that Hamas operates in civilian areas, using them as shields, and that the strike in Rafah was a necessary response. However, reports and analysis suggested that the camp was a well-known site for displaced people and that Israel may have failed to adequately protect civilians during the attack.
The cause of the fire that broke out after the strike, which resulted in additional deaths and injuries, remains unclear. Admiral Hagari of the Israeli military suggested that secondary explosions or flammable materials in the camp may have contributed to the large blaze. However, aid workers and others pointed out that cooking fires and gas canisters were common in the camp, raising the possibility of accidental ignition during the attack.
With conflicting accounts and unanswered questions surrounding the deadly strike, investigations and accountability measures are crucial to understanding the full impact of the attack on the displaced persons’ camp in Gaza. The tragic loss of civilian lives, including children and the elderly, underscores the human cost of conflict in the region and the urgent need for a peaceful resolution to the longstanding Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
