Israel-backed militia commits massacre in refugee camp

The Israel-funded Abu Nasira militia group, with air cover from occupation warplanes, has massacred Palestinian civilians in the al-Maghazi refugee camp in central Gaza. Dozens of dead and wounded were brought to the Al-Aqsa hospital in Deir al-Balah, including children.

Local resident Ahmed Al-Maghari said that Israeli strike aircraft targeted locals as they tried to defend themselves or even help the wounded:

We were shocked when Abu Nasira’s forces—or the militia—entered the neighbourhood and began firing at people’s homes and at the children inside those homes.

Some residents of the neighbourhood were forced to go out and defend the area and their community, so they began firing back at the militias that were there. There were three or four injured people just three to four meters away from our homes, and we were unable to reach them because of the direct gunfire from the militia.

Whenever anyone tried to approach to provide aid to the injured, they were immediately targeted by the aircraft.

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Witness Mahmoud Kassab said that Israeli drones were also involved in the attack:

They shot at us near the entrance of Al-Maghazi camp … Then the drones came and provided cover for them with missiles, and the quadcopter drones started dropping explosives on us.. Anyone who tries to move gets targeted.

Gaza chaos

The Abu Nasira gang formed as an offshoot of the Israeli-armed Abu Shabab militia that looted aid convoys and murdered refugees seeking food. The gang’s founder has described the group’s links with Israel as:

a strong relationship and an intimate friendship, and we will live with them for the rest of our lives in security and peace. They provide us with weapons, food, and clothing, and we coordinate with them on security to the fullest extent.

In a statement, the group described its victims as “a herd of pigs”:

Today, we pursued the herd of pigs of Hamas in Al-Maghazi camp … We will continue on this path until victory, and until the people are liberated and able to return to their homes and lands in full safety and security.

The Maghazi camp has been a frequent target for Israeli authorities, including the bombing of a UN-run school sheltering displaced families.

Featured image via the Canary