Israeli airstrikes in southern Gaza Strip kill at least 71 people

On July 13, the Gaza Strip Health Authority said at least 71 people were killed and 289 others were injured in an Israeli airstrike on the Al-Mawasi area for displaced people, near Khan Younis City, southern Gaza Strip.

A statement from the Hamas-run media office said the Israeli army had carried out "a major massacre" by bombing the displaced people's quarters in Khan Younis.

Israel has declared Al-Mawasi a safe zone after ordering residents to evacuate other areas in the Gaza Strip.

The Israeli military said it was looking into the information regarding the airstrike. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant is holding special consultations on developments in Gaza.

Meanwhile, Israel's Army Radio reported that the country carried out an airstrike targeting Hamas military commander Mohammed Deif in Gaza.

According to Israel Army Radio, Mr. Deif is believed to be hiding in an Israeli-designated humanitarian zone in Al-Mawasi, west of Khan Younis. There is no information about Mr. Deif at this time.

Senior Hamas official Abu Zuhri would not confirm whether Mr Deif was present at the time of the attack, saying all those killed were civilians.

He stressed that this airstrike showed that Israel was not interested in reaching a ceasefire.

It was not immediately clear whether the airstrike would affect ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas taking place in Doha and Cairo.