DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — The largest hospital in southern Gaza was struck by the Israeli military on Sunday night, resulting in two fatalities, injuries, and a sizable fire, according to the Health Ministry of the territory.
The strike targeted the surgical sector of Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, just days after the facility was inundated with casualties following the resumption of war by Israel with a new wave of airstrikes.
Among the two individuals killed in the attack was a 16-year-old boy who had undergone surgery two days prior, as reported by the Health Ministry. Additionally, Hamas confirmed through a statement that Ismail Barhoum, a member of its political bureau who was receiving treatment at the hospital, was also killed.
The Israeli military acknowledged the strike, claiming it targeted a Hamas militant active within the hospital premises. The military holds Hamas responsible for civilian deaths as it operates amid densely populated regions.
Similar to other medical facilities in Gaza, Nasser Hospital has suffered damage from Israeli air raids throughout the conflict. The Health Ministry stated that over 50,000 Palestinians have lost their lives since the onset of the war.
The military asserted that numerous militants had been “eliminated” since the cessation of the ceasefire on Tuesday, which involved strikes resulting in hundreds of casualties on one of the war’s deadliest days.
In Israel, domestic tensions have escalated, particularly against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. His government recently voted to express no confidence in the attorney general, who is perceived by many as a key check on the coalition’s power.
“I’m concerned for our country’s direction,” stated Avital Halperin, one of the hundreds of demonstrators outside Netanyahu’s office, where three individuals were reportedly detained by police.
In Gaza, Israeli forces directed thousands of residents to vacate the heavily damaged Tel al-Sultan neighborhood in Rafah, directing them to Muwasi, an area characterized by makeshift tent camps. This conflict has forced over 2 million inhabitants of Gaza to seek refuge, frequently multiple times.
“This is displacement amid gunfire,” explained Mustafa Gaber, a journalist evacuating with his family, while recounting the sounds of tank and drone artillery. Similar sentiments of exhaustion were echoed by others like Amal Nassar and Ayda Abu Shaer, who were forced from their homes amidst continuous violence.
The Palestinian Red Crescent also revealed that they had lost contact with a team responding to Rafah, with some members reportedly injured. According to Israel’s military, they targeted “suspicious vehicles,” later realizing some were ambulances and fire trucks.
In Gaza City, a blast occurred close to an evacuation site, causing chaos. Witnesses like Nidaa Hassuna described the panic as family members rushed to safety.
In another strike, renowned Hamas political bureau member Salah Bardawil and his wife were killed in Muwasi, as confirmed by Hamas and the Israeli military.
Hospitals in southern Gaza reported receiving 24 more victims overnight, including women and children. The Health Ministry disclosed that 50,021 Palestinians have died in the conflict, with 673 casualties following Tuesday’s bombardment breaking the ceasefire.
Dr. Munir al-Boursh, representing the Health Ministry, mentioned that among the deceased were 15,613 children, including 872 infants under one year old. The Ministry doesn’t separate civilians from fighters in counts but notes that women and children constitute the majority of deaths, while Israel claims to have killed an estimated 20,000 fighters, though without presenting evidence.
The ceasefire, initially implemented in January, suspended over a year of warfare sparked by Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. This incursion resulted in approximately 1,200 Israeli casualties and 251 hostages with most captives subsequently released in ceasefire agreements.
The ceasefire’s initial phase included exchanging 25 Israeli hostages and eight deceased individuals for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. Israeli forces permitted many to return home, enhancing humanitarian assistance which was subsequently cut off by Israel as a measure against Hamas. Planned negotiations for the ceasefire’s second phase stalled, leaving the discourse unresolved.
Meanwhile, Israel’s Cabinet advanced a plan to create 13 new settlements in the West Bank, which are classified as illegal by most of the international community. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, overseeing settlement development, confirmed this move, raising the number of settlements to 140, as per the Peace Now watchdog.
