Israeli airstrikes kill dozens of Palestinians in Gaza Strip With a Hospital Hit

On October 31, at least 30 Palestinians were killed as Israeli military strikes targeted areas across the Gaza Strip, with the northern region facing the brunt of the attacks. 

One particularly devastating strike hit the Kamal Adwan Hospital in Beit Lahiya, incinerating medical supplies and severely disrupting operations, according to health officials in the enclave, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

The Israeli military has accused Hamas of utilizing the Kamal Adwan Hospital for military purposes, asserting that "dozens of terrorists" have been sheltering there. Both health officials and Hamas have vehemently denied these claims.

The northern Gaza area, which Israel previously asserted it had cleared of Hamas's command structure, has become the focal point of the military's offensive, following recent tank incursions into Jabalia, Beit Hanoun, and Beit Lahiya aimed at rooting out militants believed to have regrouped.

Eid Sabbah, the director of nursing at Kamal Adwan Hospital, reported to Reuters that some staff members suffered minor burns due to the attack, but there were no fatalities reported within the hospital. Last week, Israeli forces had stormed and briefly occupied the facility, claiming to have detained around 100 suspected Hamas militants during that raid, with Israeli tanks still positioned nearby.

In response to the ongoing violence, the health ministry in Gaza has called on international organizations to "protect hospitals and medical staff from the brutality of the (Israeli) occupation." The Israeli military maintains that its operations are based on intelligence indicating the presence of terrorists and associated infrastructure in the vicinity of the hospital. 

"The operation revealed that numerous terrorists were hiding in the hospital, with some masquerading as hospital personnel," stated the military in a recent announcement following Thursday's strike.

Medical charity Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) also highlighted concerns for medical staff, revealing that one of its doctors, Mohammed Obeid, was detained by Israeli forces last Saturday. The organization called for the protection of Obeid and all medical personnel who are facing extreme violence while attempting to provide care.

The conflict, which reignited after Hamas-led militants launched an attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, has resulted in approximately 1,200 Israeli deaths and the capture of 251 hostages, according to Israeli reports. The subsequent Israeli military campaign in Gaza has reportedly led to the deaths of over 43,000 Palestinians and left much of the region in ruins, according to Palestinian authorities.

By Khagan Isayev