The Civil Defense in Gaza announced on Thursday that 16 Palestinians were martyred, including women and children, in an Israeli airstrike targeting tents sheltering displaced families in the Al-Mawasi area of Khan Younis, in southern Gaza.

Spokesman Mahmoud Basal told AFP that “at least 16 martyrs, mostly women and children, were transferred, along with 23 wounded, after two Israeli missiles directly struck several tents housing displaced persons in the Al-Mawasi zone.”

The targeted area lies within a so-called “safe zone” previously designated by Israel, where thousands of civilians had sought refuge from ongoing bombardments.

This strike adds to the growing number of attacks on displacement camps amid the intensifying Israeli offensive, deepening the already catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza.