Israeli tanks and drones targeted a hospital in northern Gaza overnight, resulting in fires and significant destruction, as stated by Palestinian hospital officials on Thursday. Video footage captured by a health worker at Al-Awda Hospital displays blown-away walls and thick black smoke engulfing the wreckage.
The Israeli military acknowledged its forces conducted operations “adjacent” to Al-Awda Hospital, permitting emergency responders to attempt extinguishing the ensuing blaze. However, they indicated that “the circumstances of the fire are still under review.”
Throughout nearly three months of a supply blockade in Gaza, Israel faces mounting pressure from allies to alleviate the crisis, with famine warnings becoming prevalent. Despite being a staunch ally, the United States has expressed concerns about the escalating hunger situation. Various U.N. agencies report that military restrictions and the breakdown of law and order in Gaza complicate the distribution efforts of crucial aid, leaving many in need without necessary supplies.
Since the recent lifting of the blockade by Israel, aid from nearly 200 trucks has entered Gaza, although U.N. officials report that assistance from only 90 trucks has been collected. U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric emphasized that “The shipments from yesterday are limited in quantity and nowhere near sufficient to meet the needs of Gaza’s 2.1 million people.”
Gaza’s Health Ministry reported over 100 fatalities and 250 injuries across the Gaza Strip in the last 24 hours. However, details on casualties specific to Al-Awda Hospital were not immediately available.
In other developments, the Israeli military intercepted a missile launched by Yemen’s Houthi rebels early Friday, sounding sirens across Israel. While the interception was confirmed amidst reports of audible booms in Jerusalem, the Houthis have yet to claim responsibility for the launch.
Simultaneously, tensions rose in Lebanon as it prepared for upcoming municipal elections amid a wave of airstrikes by Israel. Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam condemned these attacks, stressing Israel’s aggression will not hinder the electoral process, and urged international intervention to stop the assaults.
In response to repeated strikes in southern Lebanon, Israeli warnings preceded the destruction of a building linked to Hezbollah in Toul, while other areas were hit without forewarning. Although there were no immediate casualties reported, there is a claim of these actions violating a ceasefire agreement.
At the administrative level, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu named Major General David Zini the new Shin Bet head, following the controversial planned ouster of the current chief, Ronen Bar. Bar, whose dismissal was paused by the Supreme Court, will resign by June after contesting legal challenges.
In diplomatic circles, President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu engaged in a conversation concerning a deadly Washington shooting involving Israeli Embassy staffers and a possible deal with Iran to curb its nuclear advancements. Reports indicate the United States is taking steps toward negotiations with Iran.
Amidst palpable unease in Gaza, U.N. representatives reported theft incidents involving food trucks, stressing the desperate circumstances rather than criminal intentions behind the acts. Israel, contrasting the U.N.’s warnings, denies any food shortage, highlighting recent aid permissions into Gaza as ‘sufficient for the time.’
In a critique of ongoing conflict, former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert opined that only assertive pressure from President Trump could compel Netanyahu to end the war in Gaza, which he described as increasingly unjustified.
The sensitive topic of hospital attacks during conflicts was further explored, underscoring the eventual loss of protection for medical facilities if combatants misuse them—a complex issue at play in Gaza’s current strife.
Running parallel are reports of bakery operations resuming and the endeavors of the international community to respond to alarming food insecurity damaging pregnancies and overall health in Gaza. Meanwhile, diplomatic tiffs surface as nations like France and Japan voice protests concerning warning shots directed at diplomatic delegations.
The globe is now reacting to incidents in West Bank and Washington, focusing on enhancing protective measures around Jewish sites and through international dialogues involving top leaders like French President Emmanuel Macron, for assuring global condemnation of violence and antisemitism.
Amidst all this, the tension of missile firings by Yemen’s Houthi rebels towards Israel necessitated air raid sirens, which the Israeli military addressed promptly, stressing a resilient defense mechanism.