Israeli Airstrike on Gaza Hospital Intensifies Debate Over Attacks on Medical Facilities

On Tuesday, an Israeli airstrike targeted a prominent hospital complex in southern Gaza in an effort to eliminate a senior Hamas leader, drawing renewed focus to the contentious issue of attacks on medical facilities amid the conflict.

The assault on the European Gaza Hospital near Khan Younis resulted in at least six fatalities, according to local medical authorities. Video footage from the scene confirmed multiple deep craters on and around the hospital grounds.

Separate Israeli strikes overnight in northern Gaza reportedly caused dozens of casualties, according to Palestinian health officials.

Although Gaza’s health sector has suffered extensively during the conflict, the recent attack stands out as one of the most forceful strikes on a medical facility.

The Israeli military stated the operation targeted a Hamas command center beneath the hospital complex, with sources indicating that Muhammad Sinwar, a senior Hamas commander, was the intended target.

Imad al-Hout, director of the hospital, told reporters that the strike, carried out without prior warning, caused significant structural damage, disrupted water supplies, and forced the evacuation of most of the 200 patients. While denying any Hamas presence inside the hospital, al-Hout said he could not conclusively dismiss the possibility of tunnels beneath the premises.