An Israeli airstrike on a hospital courtyard in Gaza early Monday has resulted in the deaths of at least four people, while sparking a fire that spread through a tent camp housing displaced residents. Dozens were severely burned, according to Palestinian medical sources.
The hospital, Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah, was already overwhelmed with casualties from an earlier airstrike on a nearby school-turned-shelter that had killed at least 20 people. The fire from the latest attack swept through makeshift tents, where people were seeking refuge.
The Israeli military claims it targeted militants hiding among civilians, although no evidence was provided to support this. The airstrike is part of Israel’s ongoing offensive in Gaza, which has been active for over a year. This comes amid an increasingly brutal conflict following Hamas’s attack on southern Israel in October 2023.
Hospital records indicated that four people died in the airstrike, with another 40 injured. Many of the injured, including children, were transferred to the Nasser Hospital for treatment, especially for severe burns.
At the same time, Israel has also been involved in military action in southern Lebanon, targeting Hezbollah forces after continuous rocket attacks from the militant group. This has raised concerns of a wider regional conflict, as Hezbollah has vowed retaliation for Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon that killed 22 people last week.
The Israeli retaliation has killed over 42,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which reports that many victims are women and children. Large areas of Gaza are in ruins, and about 90% of the population has been displaced.
These pictures show the aftermath of an Israeli airstrike:
Pics: AP
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