Israeli military attacks on the largest hospital in southern Gaza have killed two people, injured several and caused a major fire, according to the Enclave’s Ministry of Health.
The Sunday night attack hit the surgical building at Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis city, the ministry reported. The attack comes days after the facility was overwhelmed by deaths and wounded as Israel resumed the war in Gaza in the shock waves of last week’s air raid.
Among those killed on Sunday was a 16-year-old boy who had surgery two days ago. Ismail Balkhum, a member of Hamas’ Politburo who was undergoing treatment at the hospital, was also killed, Hamas said in a statement.
Israeli forces confirmed the attack and said they were attacked by Hamas members. Israeli officials have repeatedly denounced civilian casualties in armed Palestinian groups governing Gaza, claiming they are intentionally operating in densely populated areas.
Like other health facilities in Gaza, Nasser Hospital was damaged by conflicting Israeli raids and air force attacks.
Israeli forces have killed more than 600 people since resuming attacks on enclaves, including dozens of people, within the past 24 hours, according to Palestinian health authorities.
On Sunday, the official death toll in Gaza exceeded 50,000 since the start of the war. However, many experts believe that this number is probably far more lurking than the actual number.
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