NEW DELHI: Palestinian president Abbas on Saturday called for an emergency UN security council meeting after Israeli strikes at al-Nuseirat refugee camp in Gaza killed at least 210, news agency Wafa reported. Meanwhile, Israeli forces rescued four hostages from the same area, however, it wasn’t clear if both incidents were part of the same operation.
According to an Israeli military spokesman, Hamas had been hiding hostages among Gazan residents, guarded by armed militants, when the hostage rescue operation took place in the middle of the residential neighborhood.
The spokesperson, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, stated that Israeli forces retaliated with airstrikes. According to a police statement, a leader of the Israeli special forces was killed during the operation.
After medics had previously reported as many as 100 Palestinian deaths, the Hamas-run government media office in Gaza subsequently stated that the death toll had increased to at least 210 with many more injured. The maximum number was not immediately confirmed by the health ministry in Gaza.
“It was like a horror movie but this was a real massacre. Israeli drones and warplanes fired all night randomly at people’s houses and at people who tried to flee the area,” Zaid, a resident of al-Nuseirat told Reuters.
Israel has heavily bombed Nuseirat, a historic Palestinian refugee camp. There has also been intense ground fighting in the camp’s eastern regions.
(With inputs from agencies)