An Israeli strike in the southern Gaza al-Mawasi camp has caused the deaths of at least 90 Palestinians, according to the enclave's Ministry of Health. The attack, which targeted a designated "safe zone" by Israel, has sparked international outrage.

Displaced individuals who had sought shelter in the area described the attack as a "horrific massacre," recounting how their tents were demolished by the force of the strike and bodies were scattered on the ground. Disturbing footage from the Medical Aid for Palestinians charity showed Palestinians digging by hand to recover those buried in the sand as a result of the Israeli attack.

The situation on the ground is dire and escalating. "I don't know what to say, the situation is a tragedy," said Mohammed Aghaalkurdi, a member of the charity at Nasser Hospital. "I am not exaggerating, we have a funeral every 15 minutes leaving the hospital. This has been ongoing since the incident. One by one, people are getting killed."

This violent assault in al-Mawasi comes in the wake of a previous Israeli attack in Gaza City and its vicinity, which left dozens dead. Witnesses have stated that the Shujayea neighborhood in Gaza City has been completely devastated by Israeli strikes.

The Israeli army has been repeatedly targeting so-called safe zones like al-Mawasi, where Palestinians were directed to relocate from other parts of the enclave. Since the beginning of Israel's offensive in October, almost the entire population of Gaza, totaling 2.3 million people, has been forcefully displaced.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that it remains unclear whether Hamas military wing leader Mohammed Deif and another commander were killed in the attack. Israel claimed that the strike was aimed at targeting Hamas commanders. Hamas has refuted these claims, asserting that they are false and intended to justify the attack. This incident marks the deadliest Israeli attack in Gaza in recent weeks.

United Nations chief Antonio Guterres expressed his shock and sadness over the civilian deaths, emphasizing that "nowhere is safe in Gaza" and calling for the upholding of international humanitarian law. Campaigners argue that the attack is a violation of the laws of war, as civilian areas should be protected from such acts. In January, the International Court of Justice stated that Israel's offensive in Gaza "plausibly" amounted to genocide.

In addition to the attack on al-Mawasi, at least 20 Palestinians were killed in an Israeli strike on a prayer hall at a Gaza camp for displaced people in west Gaza City, according to Palestinian health and civil emergency officials.

Josep Borrell, the European Union's foreign affairs and security policy representative, has called for an independent investigation into the incident, condemning any potential violations of international law.