In a devastating act of betrayal, Israeli military forces declared Khan Yunus al-Mawasi a humanitarian zone, promising civilians a “place of safety”.
But in a cruel twist, under the cover of darkness, rockets struck the very area where exhausted and relocated families were lying asleep.
At least 37 people were killed, and hundreds more were wounded. Heartbreakingly, entire families were buried alive under the sand, leaving behind nothing but silence and devastation.
What was meant to be a safe zone turned into a mass grave in an instant, marking yet another night of horror for the people of Gaza.
Dozens are Injured, and Many Remain Unaccounted
As dawn broke over Khan Yunus al-Mawasi, the promise of safety shattered with the sound of explosions. Families had gone to sleep under the belief that this humanitarian zone was free from violence, only to be awakened by the brutal reality of war.
The Israel Defense Force justified their assault by claiming it had killed two “senior Hamas commanders” in the area. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called it a “tragedy”.
However, in search to kill Hamas commanders, they have killed innocent and poor Gaza civilians. The strikes were so brutal that entire families were buried under the rubble, and no one knew what had happened to them as desperate searches started in the wreckage.
“We were sitting safely at the door of our house when suddenly we heard the sound of a missile,” witness Fadi Dukhan told Reuters.
According to another witness, Ola Al-Shaer, who moved with her family to al-Mawasi to escape fighting elsewhere in Gaza, says —
“We heard around five or six strikes, one after the other,” she said. “We rushed to help and saw women and children cut to pieces, but there are still people missing.”
The rescue efforts began in complete darkness, as the camp lacked sufficient electricity for lights. Rescuers used flashlights to search through the sand, hoping to find anyone still alive.
When the sun finally rose, it revealed massive craters in the sand, scattered with fragments of tent frames and bits of clothing.
The Whole Families Disappear in the Sand
According to civil defense spokeperson Mahmoud Basal, the people in the camps were not given any warning before the strike. He added they destroyed at least 20 to 40 camps and left three deep craters.
“There are entire families who have disappeared under the sand in the Mawasi Khan Younis massacre,” Basal said.
The most horrifying part of the strike is that people had already fled from one overcrowded area, only to be displaced again to the camps in Khan Yunus.
And just when they thought they had found some measure of safety, they were hit by a barrage of strikes that tore through the camp without warning.
The impact was devastating. It was complete genocide at Khan Yonus that night.
“I was under the sand as well. I got out and started looking for my daughters and my wife. I saw body parts of the neighbours in my tent – I did not know those were our neighbours’ parts until I saw my family in one piece.”
Abu Muammar a survival who lost one of his daughter.
Furthermore, the rescue teams were working tirelessly, but the lack of proper equipment and shovels to dig through the rubble made their efforts less effective than needed, costing many lives.
On top of that, the darkness severely limited visibility, hindering the rescue operation.
According to an earlier report, the Israeli defense forces had taken an aerial view of the area to assess the situation and minimize damage. Seizing the opportunity, they launched the strike under the cover of night.
This deliberate act shows that the attack wasn’t aimed at targeting a Hamas commander but rather seemed to be a calculated move to harm innocent civilians, including children, the elderly, and women.
The World Should Reunite Now
Global outrage is growing as world leaders and high-ranking officials condemn the recent atrocities committed by the Israeli military. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has labeled the actions as “unacceptable,” following the fatal shooting of a U.S. activist during the violence before this genocide.
He emphasized that such acts of genocide must be stopped immediately, calling for accountability and justice for the victims.
The international community cannot stand by in silence as entire families are wiped out and innocent civilians continue to suffer. The time has come for world leaders to unite and take decisive action.
The United Nations must urgently call for a ceasefire to halt the ongoing bloodshed and prevent further loss of life. Every second counts as the situation in Gaza spirals out of control, and without global intervention, the devastation will only deepen.
The world needs to act now—for humanity and the survival of the people of Gaza.
