Gaza City – An Israeli air strike on Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis on Sunday evening killed Ismail Barhoum, a senior Hamas leader, along with his aide, a Hamas official told the BBC.
The strike, which targeted the main medical facility in southern Gaza, also resulted in injuries to several others, including medical personnel, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.
Barhoum, who was in charge of Hamas’s financial affairs, had been receiving treatment at the hospital after being wounded in an air strike four days prior.
The Israeli military confirmed the attack, stating that it had targeted a key Hamas member operating inside the hospital compound after an extensive intelligence-gathering process.
The military asserted that “precise munitions” had been used to minimize collateral damage. The health ministry reported that the strike caused significant destruction, forcing the evacuation of the hospital department that was hit.
Footage verified showed hospital staff and civilians trying to extinguish a fire in the aftermath of the explosion.
Israel has long accused Hamas of using hospitals as command centres and weapons storage facilities, a claim Hamas denies.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have previously conducted operations targeting medical facilities in Gaza, citing intelligence on militant activity within hospital premises.
Escalating Violence in Khan Younis
Earlier on Sunday, another Hamas leader, Salah al-Bardaweel, was killed in a separate Israeli air strike in Khan Younis.
The Hamas-run health ministry reported that at least 30 people were killed in air strikes across Khan Younis and Rafah before the attack on the hospital in the evening.
The latest surge in violence follows Israel’s resumption of its military campaign in Gaza on March 18, ending a nearly two-month ceasefire. Since then, hundreds of Palestinians have been killed in air strikes, according to Gaza health authorities.
Tensions escalated after Hamas rejected a new ceasefire proposal from the United States, which Israel claims could have extended the truce. Hamas, however, accused Israel of abandoning the original agreement reached in January.
Ongoing Conflict and Civilian Casualties
The war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a deadly attack on Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking 251 hostages.
In response, Israel initiated a military offensive in Gaza aimed at dismantling Hamas. The Hamas-run health ministry states that more than 50,000 Palestinians have been killed in the ongoing conflict, with thousands more injured and displaced.
The international community has expressed increasing concern over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, particularly regarding attacks on medical facilities.
The United Nations and various humanitarian organizations have called for an immediate cessation of hostilities and the protection of civilians and healthcare infrastructure.
With the situation in Gaza rapidly deteriorating, diplomatic efforts to broker another ceasefire remain uncertain.
Meanwhile, Israeli forces continue their operations, vowing to eliminate Hamas leadership, while residents of Gaza face relentless bombardment and worsening humanitarian conditions.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members