More than 40 people were killed and 60 others wounded in an Israeli airstrike in a tented camp of refugees and evacuees in the southern Gaza Strip, local civil emergency services said.

The attack which took place in the early dawn of Tuesday affected about 20 encapsulated diplomatics in the al-Mawasi sector of the Khan Younis region according to Gaza’s Civil Defence.

The place is extremely densely populated with Palestinians residing in tents since the Israeli military labelled it ‘safe zone’ for civilians while launching ground attacks in Khan Younis and the neighbouring Rafah city.

Rescuers searching for survivors discovered craters as deep as 9 meters (30 feet) at the site, according to local sources.

Witnesses described scenes of chaos, with fires raging and Israeli reconnaissance aircraft hovering overhead.

A spokesperson for Gaza’s Civil Defence condemned the incident, calling it “one of the most heinous massacres in this frenzied war.” They also reported that rescue teams were facing significant challenges in retrieving the bodies of those killed.

Israeli authorities, however, stated that the strike targeted “significant Hamas terrorists” who were operating a command and control center embedded within the humanitarian zone in Khan Younis.

According to the Israeli Foreign Ministry, these fighters had “advanced and carried out attacks against Israeli troops and the state of Israel.”

The ministry added that multiple measures were taken to minimize civilian casualties, including the use of precision-guided munitions and aerial surveillance.

In contrast, Hamas, the governing Palestinian faction in Gaza, denied any militant presence in the targeted area and accused Israel of fabricating claims to justify what they described as “ugly crimes.”

In a statement, Hamas reiterated that their fighters do not operate within civilian areas or use such locations for military purposes.

Iran An Important Partner For Russia?

Russia has described Iran as an “important partner” amid reports that Tehran is supplying Moscow with short-range ballistic missiles, a claim the Kremlin did not explicitly deny.

The remarks were made by a Kremlin spokesperson on Monday, as the European Union announced it had “credible information” supporting reports of missile deliveries to Russian forces fighting in Ukraine.

Since Russia’s invasion in February 2022, Moscow and Tehran have strengthened ties, with Iran already supplying Shahed drones to Russia.

However, a senior commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, Brigadier Fazlollah Nozari, dismissed the missile supply reports as “psychological warfare,” asserting that no missiles had been sent to Russia and that Iran does not support either side in the Ukraine conflict.

The Wall Street Journal first reported the alleged missile deliveries on Friday, and the EU reaffirmed the claim on Monday, warning of potential new sanctions against Tehran if the reports are confirmed.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani rejected the accusations, stating that Iran is not involved in the Ukraine war and accusing Iran’s critics of being major arms exporters to the conflict.

While Iran firmly denied the reports, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov refrained from a direct denial, noting that not all such reports are accurate and reiterating the importance of Russia’s relationship with Iran, including cooperation in sensitive areas.

In the U.S., White House spokesperson John Kirby said he could not confirm the missile transfer but warned that such an action would have negative consequences for both Ukraine and the broader Middle East.

As Moscow faces heavy Western sanctions, it has increasingly relied on arms supplies from countries like Iran and North Korea.

Kyiv has warned that growing military cooperation between Tehran and Moscow poses a threat not only to Ukraine but also to Europe and the wider region, a sentiment echoed by NATO, which acknowledged the media reports but did not comment on their accuracy.

NATO reiterated that any missile transfer by Iran to Russia would mark a significant escalation in the conflict.

Is Iran Supplying Russia?

If Iran were to become Russia’s strategic ally then the consequences for Ukraine and Europe could prove to be deep not only at the military level but at the broader level of international relations as well.

Iran’s potential role as a weapons supplier, providing short-range ballistic missiles or other advanced military technology, would enhance Russia’s ability to wage its war in Ukraine.

This partnership could prolong the conflict by bolstering Russia’s arsenal at a time when it faces mounting international sanctions and struggles to maintain its military capabilities.

Impact on Ukraine

For Ukraine, the growing ties between Russia and Iran are likely to result in enhanced activities characterized by more complex patterns of attacks, focused on the critical infrastructure, civilian populations as well as military facilities.

Currently, Iran’s Shahed drones which are operated by Russia have dealt a great deal of destruction in Ukraine. Incidentally, the deployment of fresh missiles would increase the threat level further and complicate the situation for Ukraine to protect its land and its people.

In the case of such tactics, Ukraine would probably require even more reinforcement from Western partners in terms of air defence systems and more sophisticated equipment.

Broader Impact on Europe

A Russia-Iran alliance can significantly shift the security dynamics in Europe as well as revolutionize power politics in the EU.

While Iran’s participation in the conflict poses a direct threat to Ukraine the ripple effect could lead to instability spreading across Eastern Europe and the Middle Eastern region.

The Iran-Russia cooperation would be seen as a provocation by the NATO states which would strengthen their determent in NATO’s Eastern front and might call for tightened measures against both Russia and Iran.

It may also hurt current diplomatic processes in the Middle East where the Western countries have been trying to reign in Iran.

Iran’s military cooperation with Russia can result in necessitating further isolation but it may create a situation that forces the Tehran regime to seek closer relations with other anti-West countries such as China and North Korea.

An improved cooperative anti-western front is an unstable realignment that challenges global geo-political hierarchy, energy, trade and diplomatic relations.

Risks of Escalation

One of the gravest risks is that Iran’s involvement might lead to a broader regional conflict.

Iran’s military aid to Russia could provoke responses from Israel and other Middle Eastern countries, especially if Iran expands its missile or drone capabilities through its partnership with Moscow.

The transfer of advanced military technology could also destabilize neighbouring regions, including the Caucasus and Central Asia, which could further complicate global security.

The Last Bit, Israel’s continuous attack on ‘safety zones’ in Gaza has become not mere isolated incidents but is increasing in number, killing innocent civilians.

Meanwhile, an Iran-Russia partnership would likely harden geopolitical divides, heighten the military threats to Ukraine, and complicate Europe’s security calculus.

The international community, especially NATO and the EU, would need to reassess their strategies and bolster defensive measures to safeguard Ukraine and protect regional stability in the face of this growing alliance.