At least two people have been killed in an Israeli air attack at a hospital in southern Gaza, including Hamas officials and a 16-year-old boy, Hamas and health officials said.
Hamas Politburo member Ismail Barhoum was murdered late Sunday while undergoing treatment at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, Hamas said in a statement.
“We condemn this latest crime, which adds to the long record of occupational terrorism and violates sanctity, living and medical facilities,” Palestinian armed groups said in a statement.
“It reaffirms our neglect of all international law and treaties and the ongoing policy of systematic killings to our people and leadership.”
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed that Balhaum was the target of the attack.
Israeli forces said the attacks were “accurate munitions to mitigate harm” following “a widespread intelligence gathering process.”
“Hamas exploits civilian infrastructure while brutally putting Gazan’s population at risk. It is actively using it as a shelter to plan and carry out murderous terrorist attacks in direct violation of international law,” the military said in a statement.
Hamas leadership as Israeli assaults escalate
Balkhum’s assassination comes just hours after Hamas said Israeli forces had killed Sarah Al Baldawir, another member of the group’s Politburo, on a strike at Khan Yunis’ tent shelter.
Israel killed four members of Hamas Politburo on Tuesday. On Tuesday, the force resumed major military operations at the enclave following a weeks-long impasse in the next phase of the ceasefire with Hamas.
Video from outside of Nasser Hospital showed that Al Jazeera Arabian correspondent Rami Abu Timer was preparing to broadcast live on the scene, causing fireballs to explode from the upper floors of the building.
Khoudary, behind Al Jazeera, reported from Deir El-Balah of Gaza, that at least eight other Palestinians had been injured in the attack, all of whom were being treated for their previous injuries.
Khoudary said hospital doctors reported that they spent time putting out the fire in the department that targeted the attack.
“The hospitals throughout the Gaza Strip are overwhelmed. There are no medical supplies or medicines as Israeli forces continue to close border intersections for 21 days now,” Khoudary said.
“The situation is escalating in various parts of the Gaza Strip, especially in Beit Leihia to the north and Rafa in the south of the Gaza Strip.”
Ferose Sidva, a trauma surgeon who volunteers at Nasser Hospital, said the 16-year-old boy killed in the attack was one of his patients.
“I had surgery on him. I think I had abdominal surgery on March 18th. He would probably have gone home tomorrow, but now he’s dead,” Sidwa told Al Jazeera.
Sidwa said the surgical ward for male patients has been demolished and needs to be completely rebuilt.
“The whole hospital smells like smoke right now,” he said.
” [ward’s] The entire electrical system has been destroyed. All the doors were blown out of the hinges. Most of the windows were crushed. The ceiling collapsed. It is completely unusable. You’ll have torn apart and start over. ”
Sidwa criticized the Israeli military for targeting hospitals.
“Benjamin Netanyahu has been sick recently. Well, he’s been accused of genocide. Benjamin Netanyahu happens to be there, so I don’t think Hamas can bomb the hospital. That’s crazy,” Sidwa said.
“It’s totally sane. You don’t bomb hospitals. Everyone knows it.”
Israeli forces have killed more than 600 people since resuming attacks on the enclave, including dozens within the past 24 hours, according to Palestinian health authorities.
On Sunday, the official death toll in Gaza since the start of the war broke out above 50,000, according to Gaza’s Ministry of Health.
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