Israeli forces struck Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis on Sunday night, killing two people, wounding others, and igniting a large fire, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. Among the dead was a 16-year-old boy who had undergone surgery two days prior. Also killed was Ismail Barhoum, a member of Hamas’ political bureau, who was being treated at the facility. The attack came just days after the hospital was overwhelmed with casualties following Israel’s resumption of its offensive in Gaza.
Israel’s military confirmed the strike, stating it had targeted a Hamas militant operating within the hospital. Israeli authorities continue to justify civilian casualties by blaming Hamas for operating in densely populated areas. However, medical facilities across Gaza have suffered repeated attacks since the war began, severely hampering healthcare services.
Death Toll Rises as Displacement Worsens
Gaza’s Health Ministry reported on Sunday that more than 50,000 Palestinians have been killed in the war, including at least 15,613 children, 872 of whom were under one year old. The renewed Israeli bombardment has resulted in at least 673 deaths since Tuesday, when a fragile ceasefire collapsed.
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The war has forced the majority of Gaza’s 2 million residents to flee multiple times. On Sunday, Israeli forces ordered the evacuation of Tel Al-Sultan, a heavily bombed neighborhood in Rafah, forcing thousands to move to makeshift tent camps in Muwasi. “It’s displacement under fire,” said journalist Mustafa Gaber, who fled with his family amid tank and drone fire. Another displaced resident, Amal Nassar, described the harrowing conditions: “The shells are falling among us, and the bullets are flying above us. The elderly have been thrown into the streets.”
The Palestinian Red Crescent emergency service reported losing contact with a 10-member team responding to airstrikes in Rafah, with some reportedly wounded. Israeli forces later admitted to firing on advancing “suspicious vehicles,” which they later discovered included ambulances and fire trucks.
Hamas Leader Killed Amid Intensified Strikes
Israel intensified its offensive across Gaza, killing prominent Hamas political bureau member Salah Bardawil in a strike on Muwasi. His wife was also among the dead. Israeli forces claim to have “eliminated” dozens of militants since ending the ceasefire on Tuesday, one of the deadliest days in the 17-month war. Hospitals in southern Gaza received at least 24 additional bodies from overnight strikes, including women and children.
Despite Israel’s claim that around 20,000 of those killed were fighters, it has provided no independent verification. The Health Ministry, which does not differentiate between civilians and combatants, states that women and children make up over half of the dead.
Ceasefire Collapse and Rising Political Unrest
The war reignited last week after Israel ended a brief ceasefire that began in January. The truce had halted over a year of fighting that started after Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, in which 1,200 people were killed and 251 were taken hostage. During the ceasefire, Hamas released 25 Israeli hostages and the bodies of eight others in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.
However, the ceasefire negotiations for a second phase—which aimed to secure the release of the remaining 59 Israeli hostages, 35 of whom are believed to be dead—never materialized. Israel intensified airstrikes and cut off all aid to Gaza, citing pressure tactics against Hamas.
Domestically, the war is also fueling political turmoil in Israel. On Sunday, tensions flared as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government voted to express no confidence in the attorney general, a move critics see as an attempt to consolidate power. Protests erupted outside Netanyahu’s office, with demonstrators calling for an end to the war. “I’m worried for the future of this country. And I think it has to stop. We have to change direction,” said protester Avital Halperin. Israeli police arrested three demonstrators.