UN chief 'strongly condemns' Israel air strike on ‘safe zone’ in Gaza

UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, on Tuesday “strongly” condemned a deadly Israeli air strike on a declared “humanitarian safe zone” in the southern Gaza Strip, Anadolu Agency reports.

“I can tell you that the Secretary-General (Guterres) is deeply alarmed by the continued loss of life in Gaza. He strongly condemns today’s Israeli air strike in an Israeli designated zone for displaced persons in Khan Yunis,” spokesman, Stephane Dujarric, told reporters.

“The use of heavy weapons in densely populated areas is unconscionable,” he said in conveying Guterres’s message.

Saying that the Palestinians were displaced from the area, “in search of safety”, Dujarric reiterated the UN chief’s demand for an immediate ceasefire and the release of all hostages in Gaza.

At least 40 people were killed and dozens injured in the air strike early Tuesday on a tent camp in Khan Yunis in the Al-Mawasi area, which Israel designated as a “humanitarian safe zone” for displaced civilians in Gaza.

Gaza’s Civil Defence service said Israeli missiles set refugee tents ablaze and caused craters as deep as nine meters (30 feet).

Israel has continued a brutal offensive on Gaza since a 7 October Hamas attack, despite a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire.

More than 41,000 people, mostly women and children, have since been killed and nearly 95,000 injured, according to local health authorities.

An ongoing blockade of the enclave has led to severe shortages of food, clean water and medicine, leaving much of the region in ruins.

Israel faces accusations of genocide for its actions in Gaza at the International Court of Justice.

WATCH: Israel massacres Palestinians in ‘safe zone’