Israel’s armed forces struck Nasser Hospital, the largest medical facility in southern Gaza, on Sunday night, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. The strike targeting the surgical wing of Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, killed top Hamas official, injured several others, and triggered a massive fire, it said.
The attack occurred just days after the hospital was flooded with casualties following Israel’s renewed military offensive in Gaza, which began with a wave of intense airstrikes last week.
Israel confirmed striking the hospital
Israel’s military confirmed striking the hospital, stating they targeted a Hamas operative present there. They attribute civilian casualties to Hamas’s presence in populated areas.
Sharing a post on X, IDF said: “A key Hamas terrorist who was operating from within the Nasser Hospital compound in Gaza was precisely struck. Hamas exploits civilian infrastructure while brutally endangering the Gazan population–cynically using an active hospital as a shelter for planning and executing murderous terrorist attacks in a direct violation of international law.”
Nasser Hospital, similar to other medical facilities across Gaza, has sustained damage from Israeli military operations throughout the conflict. The Palestinian health ministry on Sunday said that the death toll in the ongoing war has killed more than 50,000.
Attack on hospital kills key Hamas aide
According to BBC, Ismail Barhoum, who managed the organisation’s financial operations, lost his life during the attack on Nasser Hospital, the primary healthcare centre in Khan Younis.
He had been undergoing medical care at the facility following injuries sustained in an aerial bombardment four days earlier, the official added.
Earlier, Hamas confirmed Salah Bardawil, a senior political bureau member, and his wife died in a Muwasi strike, which Israel’s military verified. Hospitals in southern Gaza reported receiving 24 more casualties overnight, including women and children.
Israel’s military claimed to have “eliminated” dozens of militants since resuming its offensive on Gaza last Tuesday, following the collapse of a ceasefire. The renewed strikes resulted in hundreds of deaths, marking one of the deadliest days in the 17-month-long war.
Political tensions in Israel, govt votes no confidence
Meanwhile, political tensions escalated in Israel on Sunday, with growing public frustration toward Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. His government voted to express no confidence in the attorney general, a move seen by many as an attempt to weaken a key check on the coalition’s power.
Amid ongoing violence, the Israeli military ordered thousands of Palestinians to evacuate the devastated Tel al-Sultan neighborhood in Rafah. Displaced families fled to Muwasi, a makeshift area filled with overcrowded tent camps.
2 million residents to flee their homes
The war has already forced the majority of Gaza’s more than 2 million residents to flee their homes, many of them multiple times. “Enough is enough. We are exhausted,” Ayda Abu Shaer told the Associated Press, as smoke rose nearby.
The Palestinian Red Crescent reported losing contact with a 10-member emergency team responding to Rafah strikes. Their spokesperson, Nebal Farsakh, confirmed some team members were injured.
Israel’s military acknowledged firing at approaching “suspicious vehicles,” later identifying them as ambulances and fire trucks. In Gaza City, an explosion occurred near an evacuation camp. “My husband is blind and started running barefoot, and my children were running,” recounted witness Nidaa Hassuna.
More than 50,000 Palestinians died
The health ministry said that 50,021 Palestinians have died, including 673 since Tuesday’s post-ceasefire bombardment. Dr. Munir al-Boursh reported 15,613 children among the deceased, with 872 of them under 1 year old.
The ministry’s figures, not distinguishing between civilians and combatants, indicate over half the casualties are women and children. Israel claims approximately 20,000 fighter casualties without providing evidence.
Ceasefire interrupted and renewed hostilities
The January ceasefire interrupted over a year of conflict following Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, which resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths, mostly civilians, and 251 hostages. Most captives were released through agreements.
The recent ceasefire’s initial phase saw 25 Israeli hostages and eight deceased hostages exchanged for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.
Israeli forces permitted hundreds of thousands to return home, with increased humanitarian aid until Israel suspended supplies to Gaza this month, pressuring Hamas to modify the ceasefire terms.
Negotiations scheduled for early February to discuss the next phase of the ceasefire—centering on Hamas releasing the remaining 59 hostages, including 35 believed to be deceased, in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, a permanent ceasefire, and Israel’s withdrawal—never took place.
