Israeli Army Acknowledges Strike on Gaza Following BBC Verify Investigation

The Israeli military has confirmed a previously unreported strike on the al-Mawasi area in Gaza, leading to civilian casualties, including one death and numerous injuries, amidst a broader conflict that has resulted in significant losses in the region.

The Israeli military has officially acknowledged to BBC Verify that it conducted an artillery strike on the al-Mawasi area in southern Gaza, an event which had not been previously disclosed. This attack reportedly resulted in the death of one Palestinian and injured approximately 30 others. The strike occurred shortly after a separate incident near an aid distribution center in Rafah that reportedly killed 31 Palestinians, according to the Hamas-controlled Civil Defence agency.

Following a review of video evidence linked to the raid on the aid center, BBC Verify uncovered footage revealing a distinct explosion in Khan Younis, which had not been announced by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Upon inquiry from BBC Verify, the IDF admitted that it had conducted the artillery strike, attributing the incident to "technical and operational errors". They stated that troops had aimed at a designated target, but the artillery "deviated" and inadvertently struck the coastal area of Khan Younis. The IDF, however, offered no substantiating evidence for these claims.

Acknowledgment of such "errors" by the IDF is rare. An analysis of their communications on Telegram revealed only four prior instances where they admitted to making mistakes or errors since the commencement of military actions in Gaza in October 2023. The footage originating from the Khan Younis blast emerged on Sunday evening, depicting severely injured victims in a densely populated area where many displaced Palestinians had set up temporary shelters.

The situation on the ground significantly worsened, with over 90% of Gaza's 2.1 million inhabitants displaced due to ongoing conflicts. Eyewitness reports and subsequent hospital documentation led BBC Verify to connect injuries back to the incident, which was initially misidentified in context to a different event in Rafah.

The Civil Defence agency highlighted the fatalities occurring near the aid distribution center, to which the Israeli army initially denied involvement, later admitting to firing warning shots in the vicinity. A local journalist verified the timing of the Khan Younis incident, stating it occurred around 19:00 local time, confirming it took place hours after the earlier Rafah casualties.

As disputes surrounding these events unfold, a statement from the White House erroneously suggested that the BBC had retracted its reporting on the aid center, prompting a response from the BBC asserting that the White House's claims were "misleading" and emphasized their commitment to accurate journalism.

The ongoing conflict, which escalated following Hamas' attack that resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths and hostages taken, has led to a catastrophic death toll in Gaza, where officials claim over 54,607 individuals have died since the military offensive resumed on March 18, 2024.