An Israeli airstrike at a hospital in Gaza on Sunday killed 5 individuals, together with a Hamas political chief, Palestinian medics and Hamas mentioned, in an assault Israel mentioned had focused a key determine in the militant group.
The Gaza Well being Ministry mentioned the strike hit the surgical procedure division at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis. The Israeli navy mentioned its assault adopted intensive intelligence and used exact munitions to reduce hurt at the positioning.
Hamas mentioned a member of its political workplace, Ismail Barhoum, had been killed.
Israel’s defence minister, Israel Katz, confirmed the goal was Barhoum. The navy didn’t title the goal, which it described solely as “a key terrorist” in Hamas.
Hamas’ Al-Aqsa TV mentioned Barhoum was being handled at the hospital for wounds sustained in a earlier assault. Israel says Hamas systematically embeds in hospitals, colleges and shelters, which the group denies.
Stories of assaults escalating
After two months of relative calm, Gazans have once more been fleeing for his or her lives after Israel successfully deserted a ceasefire, launching a brand new all-out air and floor marketing campaign on Tuesday in opposition to Hamas.
One other chief in Hamas, Salah al-Bardaweel, was killed in a separate strike in Khan Younis, Hamas mentioned earlier. The Israeli navy confirmed it had killed Bardaweel on Saturday.
Each Bardaweel and Barhoum had been members of the 19-member Hamas decision-making physique, the political workplace, 11 of whom have been killed for the reason that begin of the conflict in late 2023, based on Hamas sources.
Explosions echoed all through the north, central and southern Gaza Strip early on Sunday, as Israeli planes hit targets in these areas in what witnesses mentioned was an escalation of the assaults that started earlier in the week.
Signaling it might escalate its actions additional, the Israeli navy mentioned on Sunday one in all its divisions that had operated in Lebanon, the place Israel fought Hamas’ Iranian-backed ally Hezbollah, was getting ready for potential motion in Gaza.
It distributed video of tanks unloaded in a subject and a caption that learn: “Preparations of the thirty sixth Division for Operations in the Gaza Strip.”
At the very least 45 Palestinians had been killed in Israeli strikes on Rafah and Khan Younis to this point on Sunday, well being authorities mentioned.
‘Appalling lack of life’
Palestinian officers on Sunday put the demise toll from practically 18 months of battle at over 50,000.
The Israeli navy mentioned it does its finest to cut back hurt to civilians and questioned the demise toll supplied by well being authorities in the Hamas-run territory.
A lot of the useless in Gaza have been civilians, based on well being officers. Israel says they embrace round 20,000 fighters. Hamas doesn’t disclose casualty figures.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has mentioned the purpose of the conflict is to destroy Hamas as a navy and governing entity. The purpose of the brand new marketing campaign is to pressure the group to surrender remaining hostages, he mentioned on Tuesday.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Netanyahu to “emphasize U.S. help for Israel,” a State Division spokesperson mentioned. They mentioned Israel’s ongoing navy operations in Gaza, efforts to carry hostages house and U.S. strikes in opposition to Iranian-backed Houthi militants in Yemen, the spokesperson added.
Israel launched its offensive in Gaza after Hamas fighters stormed southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1,200 individuals, principally civilians, and taking greater than 250 hostages, based on Israeli tallies.
“Israel’s navy offensive has induced an appalling lack of life,” mentioned European Union overseas coverage chief Kaja Kallas. “So long as this conflict continues, either side lose.”
Kallas added Israel should respect civilian lives and that threats to annex elements of Gaza had been unacceptable.
Hamas has accused Israel of breaking the phrases of the January ceasefire settlement however has mentioned it’s nonetheless prepared to barter a ceasefire and was learning proposals from U.S. President Donald Trump’s particular envoy, Steve Witkoff.
Rafah neighbourhood encircled
Israeli navy spokesperson Avichay Adraee issued an evacuation warning for residents in the Tel Al-Sultan neighborhood in western Rafah.
The navy mentioned troops had encircled Tel Al-Sultan to dismantle “terror infrastructure websites and eradicate terrorists in the world,” in order to bolster management and increase the safety zone in southern Gaza.
It mentioned troopers had been permitting the evacuation of civilians from the fight zone by way of organized routes for his or her security.
Dozens of households stop their houses in Tel Al-Sultan heading northward to Khan Younis, some on foot, whereas others carried their belongings and youngsters on donkey carts and rickshaws.
“When the ceasefire started, we returned to place up tents subsequent to the ruins of our houses, dreaming that quickly our houses can be rebuilt,” mentioned Abu Khaled, a Rafah resident.
“Now we’re fleeing beneath fireplace for possibly the tenth time, when will we ever relaxation? When will there ever be peace in this metropolis?” he instructed Reuters by way of a chat app.
The Palestinian Civil Emergency Service mentioned 50,000 residents remained trapped in Rafah after they had been stunned by an Israeli military raid into their areas, warning their lives, and people of rescue groups, had been at threat.
UNRWA warns of ‘acute starvation disaster’
Palestinian and worldwide officers additionally warned concerning the threat of a brand new starvation disaster.
“Day-after-day with out meals inches Gaza nearer to an acute starvation disaster. Banning support is a collective punishment on Gaza: the overwhelming majority of its inhabitants are youngsters, ladies & unusual males,” the pinnacle of the United Nations company on Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, Philippe Lazzarini, posted on X.
On March 2, Israel blocked the entry of products into Gaza and Netanyahu’s overseas coverage adviser, Ophir Falk, accused Hamas of taking support for its personal use, a cost Hamas has beforehand denied.
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