Tragedy Strikes Al-Maghazi Refugee Camp in Central Gaza
GAZA — A devastating strike targeted Al-Maghazi refugee camp in central Gaza, resulting in the tragic deaths of at least 13 people, including seven children, and leaving more than 25 others injured. The relentless bombardment of the Palestinian territory by Israel continues to wreak havoc and destruction.
Exclusive graphic video obtained by CNN from eyewitness Nihad Owdetallah captures the aftermath of the strike, with several casualties, including children, lying lifeless on the ground amidst pools of blood. The chaotic scene shows people in panic, frantically trying to tend to the wounded and carry the deceased. Among the heartbreaking sights is a foosball table covered in dust, a stark contrast to the tragedy that unfolded.
Owdetallah, a resident of the camp, recounted hearing the explosion at approximately 3:40 p.m. local time on Tuesday, just meters away from his location. “I immediately walked to see what happened and found dead bodies strewn on the ground. The sounds of screams, especially from children, filled the air. These innocent children, who were simply playing foosball, were tragically killed,” he shared.
CNN’s footage from inside Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital captures the influx of casualties and injured individuals being rushed in for emergency treatment. The overcrowded emergency room is a harrowing scene, with wounded children crying out in pain on the floor while distraught family members gather around the lifeless bodies of their loved ones, kissing them, holding onto them, and grieving.
In a heart-wrenching moment at the morgue, families attempt to identify their deceased relatives among the rows of body bags. Fatmeh Issa tearfully points to a bag containing the bloodied face of a young boy, identifying him as her son. Another man cries out in anguish, pleading for mercy as he emphasizes that the victims were innocent civilians, not combatants.
The emotional turmoil is palpable as a man hands over the lifeless body of a young girl, reciting Quranic verses and sobbing uncontrollably. He lays her down gently, revealing that she is his daughter, Lujain, a nine-year-old who was tragically killed while playing outside with other children.
Outside the hospital, distraught individuals, particularly women, clamor to gain entry, desperate for news about their loved ones. The somber atmosphere is punctuated by prayers offered for the departed souls before they are laid to rest.
CNN has reached out to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) for a response but has not received one at this time. — CNN
