DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — Israel’s army struck the biggest hospital in southern Gaza on Sunday evening, killing two individuals, wounding others and inflicting a big hearth, the territory’s Well being Ministry mentioned.
The strike hit the surgical constructing of Nasser Hospital within the metropolis of Khan Younis, the ministry mentioned, days after the ability was overwhelmed with useless and wounded when Israel resumed the conflict in Gaza final week with a shock wave of airstrikes.
These killed in Sunday evening’s strike included a 16-year-old boy who underwent surgical procedure two days in the past, in keeping with the Well being Ministry. Additionally killed was Ismail Barhoum, a member of Hamas’ political bureau, who was being handled on the hospital, Hamas mentioned in a press release.
Israel’s army confirmed the strike on the hospital, saying it hit a Hamas militant working there. Israel blames civilian deaths on Hamas as a result of it operates in densely populated areas.
Like different medical amenities round Gaza, Nasser Hospital has been broken by Israeli raids and strikes all through the conflict.
Greater than 50,000 Palestinians have now been killed within the conflict, the Well being Ministry mentioned earlier Sunday.
The army claimed to have “eliminated” dozens of militants since Israel ended a ceasefire Tuesday with strikes that killed tons of of individuals on one of many deadliest days within the 17-month conflict.
Israel’s unrest over Gaza and political points grew Sunday, with anger at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as his authorities voted to precise no confidence within the lawyer common, seen by many as a verify on the ability of his coalition.
“I’m worried for the future of this country. And I think it has to stop. We have to change direction,” mentioned Avital Halperin, one in every of tons of of protesters outdoors Netanyahu’s workplace. Police mentioned three had been arrested.
‘Displacement under fire’
Israel’s army ordered hundreds of Palestinians to go away the closely destroyed Tel al-Sultan neighborhood within the southern metropolis of Rafah. They walked to Muwasi, a sprawling space of squalid tent camps. The conflict has compelled most of Gaza’s inhabitants of over 2 million to flee inside the territory, usually a number of occasions.
“It’s displacement under fire,” mentioned Mustafa Gaber, a journalist who left along with his household. He mentioned tank and drone hearth echoed close by.
“The shells are falling among us and the bullets are (flying) above us,” mentioned Amal Nassar, additionally displaced. “The elderly have been thrown into the streets. An old woman was telling her son, ‘Go and leave me to die.’ Where will we go?”
“Enough is enough. We are exhausted,” mentioned a fleeing Ayda Abu Shaer, as smoke rose within the distance.
The Palestinian Crimson Crescent emergency service mentioned it misplaced contact with a 10-member crew responding to the strikes in Rafah. Spokesperson Nebal Farsakh mentioned some had been wounded.
Israel’s army mentioned it had fired on advancing “suspicious vehicles” and later found some had been ambulances and hearth vehicles.
In Gaza Metropolis, an explosion hit subsequent to a tent camp the place individuals had been advised to evacuate. “My husband is blind and started running barefoot, and my children were running,” mentioned witness Nidaa Hassuna.
Strikes kill Hamas chief
Hamas mentioned Salah Bardawil, a well known member of its political bureau, was killed in a strike in Muwasi that additionally killed his spouse. Israel’s army confirmed it.
Hospitals in southern Gaza mentioned they obtained an additional 24 our bodies from strikes in a single day, together with a number of girls and kids.
Gaza’s Well being Ministry mentioned 50,021 Palestinians have been killed within the conflict, together with 673 individuals since Israel’s bombardment on Tuesday shattered the ceasefire.
Dr. Munir al-Boursh, the ministry’s common director, mentioned the useless embody 15,613 youngsters, with 872 of them underneath 1 12 months outdated.
The ministry doesn’t distinguish between civilians and combatants in its depend however says girls and kids make up over half the useless. Israel says it has killed round 20,000 fighters, with out offering proof.
Ceasefire in tatters
The ceasefire that took maintain in January paused greater than a 12 months of preventing ignited by Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, assault into Israel, through which militants killed some 1,200 individuals, principally civilians, and took 251 hostage. Most captives have been launched in ceasefire agreements or different offers.
Within the newest ceasefire’s first part, 25 Israeli hostages and the our bodies of eight others had been launched in change for practically 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. Israeli forces allowed tons of of hundreds of individuals to return house. There was a surge in humanitarian help till Israel minimize off all provides to Gaza earlier this month to strain Hamas to alter the ceasefire settlement.
The edges had been supposed to start negotiations in early February on the ceasefire’s subsequent part, through which Hamas was to launch the remaining 59 hostages — 35 of them believed to be useless — in change for extra Palestinian prisoners, an enduring ceasefire and an Israeli withdrawal. These talks by no means started.
New settlements within the West Financial institution
Israel’s Cupboard handed a measure creating 13 new settlements within the occupied West Financial institution by rezoning current ones, in keeping with Bezalel Smotrich, Israel’s far-right finance minister, who’s in control of settlement development.
This brings the variety of settlements, thought-about unlawful by nearly all of the worldwide neighborhood, to 140, mentioned anti-settlement watchdog group Peace Now. They are going to obtain impartial budgets from Israel and may elect their very own native governments, the group mentioned.
