Israel Strikes Gaza Hospitals, Journalists Killed, Wounded

Israeli airstrikes targeting areas near hospitals in Gaza overnight resulted in multiple deaths and injuries, including journalists, escalating tensions in the ongoing conflict. According to reports from medical facilities, at least fifteen Palestinians were killed in separate incidents across the territory, with additional casualties concentrated around Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis and Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah.

A strike on a media tent outside Nasser Hospital at approximately 2 a.m. local time killed Yousef al-Faqawi, a reporter for Palestine Today, and another civilian, while wounding six journalists. Three more individuals were injured in a similar strike near Al-Aqsa Hospital. Nasser Hospital also reported receiving thirteen additional bodies from overnight strikes, including six women and four children.

The Israeli military confirmed targeting a Hamas militant in one of the strikes, maintaining its position that it takes measures to avoid civilian casualties and attributing deaths to Hamas’s presence within residential areas. This justification, however, does little to mitigate the devastating impact on civilians, particularly given the widespread displacement and reliance on hospital grounds for shelter. Thousands have sought refuge in tents erected within hospital compounds, believing – tragically, in some instances – that these areas would be spared from attack.

This latest escalation follows the end of a recent ceasefire last month and a tightening of restrictions on essential supplies entering Gaza, including food, fuel, medicine, and humanitarian aid, which has been largely blocked since March. The ongoing military offensive, coupled with these restrictions, is creating a dire humanitarian crisis.

The conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants infiltrated Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. While most hostages were released during ceasefires, 59 remain captive, with 24 believed to be alive. Israel has vowed to continue military pressure until the remaining hostages are released and Hamas is removed from power.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has also publicly supported a proposal from former U.S. President Donald Trump to resettle a significant portion of Gaza’s population in other countries, a plan vehemently opposed by Palestinians and condemned by human rights experts as a potential violation of international law and a form of mass expulsion. Netanyahu is scheduled to meet with Trump in Washington on Monday to discuss these and other issues.

According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, the Israeli offensive has resulted in over 50,000 Palestinian deaths, a figure that includes a disproportionate number of women and children. Israel claims to have killed around 20,000 militants, but has not provided supporting evidence.

The targeting of areas near hospitals, even with stated intentions to avoid civilian casualties, is deeply concerning. Hospitals are protected under international humanitarian law, and the deliberate or reckless endangerment of medical facilities and personnel constitutes a grave violation. The sheer scale of casualties and displacement demands a renewed commitment to protecting civilians and finding a sustainable path towards peace. The current trajectory risks further destabilizing the region and exacerbating an already catastrophic humanitarian situation.