Israel’s recent resurgence of attacks on the Gaza Strip, targeting what they described as key Hamas leaders, has resulted in significant human casualties, including the bombing of Gaza’s largest hospital filled with wounded individuals and refugees.
On the 23rd, the Israeli military bombed Al-Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, the largest hospital in southern Gaza. According to local health authorities, the Israeli military targeted surgical wards during the airstrike, resulting in the deaths of five individuals, including a 16-year-old boy, and injuring dozens of patients and healthcare workers. The hospital’s surgical ward was completely destroyed, and the tragic incident has raised concerns of international law violations.
Hamas announced that Ismail Barhoum, a member of its political bureau, was killed during the airstrike while receiving treatment at the hospital. Israel has justified its actions by claiming that Hamas uses civilian facilities as human shields, a claim Hamas denies.
The Israeli military admitted to the hospital attack, affirming that they eliminated a key terrorist, and mentioned the use of precise bombs based on extensive intelligence to minimize collateral damage. Despite this, attacking a medical facility during wartime is likely to stir controversy over international law violations.
Casualty figures have continued to rise; after Israel broke the ceasefire that had lasted for over two months and resumed its offensive on the 18th, 730 more people died by the 24th, bringing the total death toll in Gaza to over 50,000. This figure does not include over 10,000 people presumed dead under rubble according to Gaza’s health ministry.
The Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has stated that the aim of their attacks is to completely dismantle the military and governance capabilities of Hamas. Nonetheless, the escalating violence disproportionately affects civilians, many of whom find themselves with nowhere safe to go amidst expanding military operations and airstrikes even in declared humanitarian zones.