Israel’s recent airstrike on a designated humanitarian zone in Al-Mawasi, southern Gaza, has raised serious concerns over the use of heavy munitions, particularly 2,000-pound bombs. The attack resulted in the deaths of 19 people, with fears that others remain trapped under the debris.
A video recorded after the attack and verified by the New York Times reveals large craters and a bomb fragment, strongly suggesting the deployment of these powerful bombs. The dimensions of the craters, measuring 50 feet wide, are consistent with the use of 2,000-pound munitions, according to weapon experts.
The US has previously expressed concern regarding the use of such heavy munitions in the densely populated Gaza Strip, warning that they could cause widespread damage and casualties. Earlier this year, Washington suspended the export of US-made 2,000-pound bombs to Israel due to these concerns.
While Israel has defended the strikes as “precise” and targeted against Hamas terrorists, it has not publicly confirmed the type of munitions used. Chris Cobb-Smith, a former British Army artillery officer, stated, “The dimensions of the crater indicate it’s likely that this strike involved the use of a 2,000-pound aerial dropped bomb by the IDF.” Further corroboration came from Trevor Ball, a former U.S. Army explosive ordnance disposal technician, who identified the bomb fragment as the “tail section of a SPICE-2000 kit,” a precision guidance kit commonly used with 2,000-pound bombs.
The incident has sparked widespread condemnation as Al-Mawasi is designated as a humanitarian zone by Israel. This attack comes on the heels of other operations in the area, including a strike in July that Israel claimed killed Hamas military chief Mohammed Deif, although Gaza health authorities reported over 90 fatalities. The use of heavy munitions in a humanitarian zone raises significant questions about the proportionality and collateral damage associated with Israel’s military operations in Gaza.
