There was little shelter and barely any services in al-Mawasi when the Abu Hatab family arrived seeking sanctuary from the intensifying bombardment around their homes in Khan Yunis.

But al-Mawasi was the one place they had been told they would be safe. From early November Israel urged the civilian population of Gaza evacuate to the narrow, sandy coastal strip the size of Heathrow airport.

On Wednesday night, the bombardment followed them to the so-called safe zone, when shelling rained down on their flimsy tents as they slept.

“They dropped leaflets and told us to come here, that this was truly the one safe place,” Bahaa Abu Hatab, one of the survivors said. “My brother took his children to protect them from the occupation’s missiles, but here they were martyred anyway, in this ‘safe’ place, in the tent that my brother set up in this field.”

At least 14 Palestinians, including nine children, were killed in strikes on al-Mawasi early on Thursday, according to the Hamas-run ministry of health in Gaza.

  • @gedaliyah
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    -1511 months ago

    This is why I don’t understand why Hamas doesn’t just release the hostages and surrender their leaders. It would be the best strategic move. If Israel continues to attack then they lose all pretence of fighting terrorism. If Israel stops then it saves Palestinian lives.

    Does Hamas still think that they’ll win?

    • @Haha
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      2111 months ago

      The next generation will be even worse than hamas. And they will be called terrorists too. And then the next generation of israelis will ask themselves how they became the way they are. Point at today just like we point at history while everyone plays ignorant.

      • @SoleInvictus
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        11 months ago

        And then the next generation of israelis will ask themselves how they became the way they are.

        I think you’re giving them WAY too much credit. Your comment made me think of all the Americans I’ve met who actually believe the United States is a benevolent peacekeeper who altruistically polices the world and anyone who protests US Imperialism is simply ungrateful and just looking for a handout.

        The Zionists I’ve met make these people look clear-headed and rational.

    • @[email protected]
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      11 months ago

      What about all the deaths before they got any hostages? Before Hamas?

      What about what is happening in the west bank where there is no Hamas? Hamas was created because of what Israel has done and keep on doing. Giving up won’t change anything

      • @gedaliyah
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        -1211 months ago

        What is the strategic goal of continued fighting?

        • @[email protected]
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          1211 months ago

          What’s the strategic goal of giving up? It’s not like Israel wasn’t murdering Palestinians before hostages were taken, so why do you think they’d stop?

          Maybe the strategic goal is to force the world to see what’s happening.

        • @[email protected]
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          211 months ago

          Further erode relations between Israel and other ME countries.

          Turn international political option against Israel.

          The only path to any kind of resolution in which Gaza gets sovereignty is if Israel is forced to the table by the international community.

          To do that, Hamas has to get Israel to kill as many Gaza citizens as they can

    • @guriinii
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      1611 months ago

      Removed by mod

        • SilverserenOP
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          -111 months ago

          So is the IDF Amalek in this case, killing all the women, children, and elderly by targeting the civilian safe areas?

    • Spzi
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      911 months ago

      Hamas never had a chance against IDF in a military clash. They try to erode international support for Israel instead, by dragging the giant into a long and dirty fight.

      They also need to take care about their domestic support. In both cases, it is good for Hamas when IDF does cruel things.

      So the strategic goal of continued fighting is to show everyone, abroad and at home, how evil Israel is, to stay in power.

    • SilverserenOP
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      711 months ago

      The leaders of Hamas aren’t in Gaza and they never have been, so they really don’t care or have any intention of surrendering. Furthermore, Hamas wasn’t the only one involved in the kidnappings. A dozen other unrelated groups also kidnapped people on October 7th and Hamas has no control or knowledge of the whereabouts of those individuals.