At least 46 Palestinians were killed in Israeli military strikes across the Gaza Strip on Thursday, with the majority of casualties occurring in the northern region. Among the dead, an attack targeted a hospital, leading to the destruction of medical supplies and significant disruptions to healthcare operations, according to Gaza's health officials.
The Israeli military has accused the Palestinian militant group Hamas of utilizing Kamal Adwan Hospital in Beit Lahiya for military activities, asserting that \"dozens of terrorists\" were hiding within the facility. Both health officials and Hamas have denied these allegations, maintaining that the hospital is a safe zone for medical staff and patients.
Later on Thursday, an additional Israeli airstrike hit two houses in the Nuseirat camp in central Gaza, resulting in the deaths of at least 16 Palestinians. Among the victims were a paramedic and two local journalists, as reported by medics at Al-Awda Hospital in the camp.
Northern Gaza has become the primary focus of the Israeli military's operations in the enclave. Earlier this month, Israeli forces deployed tanks into regions including Jabalia, Beit Hanoun, and Beit Lahiya in an effort to flush out militants believed to have regrouped in these areas.
Eid Sabbah, director of nursing at Kamal Adwan Hospital, stated that some staff members suffered minor burns when the Israeli strike hit the third floor of the facility. Fortunately, there were no reported casualties at the hospital itself, which was briefly occupied by Israeli forces last week. During that raid, approximately 100 suspected Hamas militants were captured, and Israeli tanks remain stationed nearby.
The Health Ministry in the Hamas-run Gaza Strip has called on all international bodies \"to protect hospitals and medical staff from the brutality of the (Israeli) occupation.\" In response, the Israeli military has reiterated that its operations near the hospital are based on intelligence indicating the presence of militants and their infrastructure in the area.
\"During the operation, it was found that dozens of terrorists were hiding in the hospital, with some even posing as hospital staff,\" the military stated following Thursday's strike.
Medical charity Médecins Sans Frontières reported that one of its doctors at the hospital, Mohammed Obeid, was detained by Israeli forces last Saturday. The organization has called for the protection of all medical staff who are \"facing horrific violence as they try to provide care.\"
The ongoing conflict in Gaza began after Hamas-led militants launched attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023, resulting in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people and the kidnapping of 251 hostages, according to Israeli sources. Since then, Israel's military assault on Gaza has led to the deaths of over 43,000 Palestinians and has left much of the territory in ruins, as reported by Palestinian authorities.
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At least 46 Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes, says Gaza ministry
cgtn.com
