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Israel hits Gaza hospitals in deadly strikes after pause to allow release of Edan Alexander Israeli bombing wave kills dozens in Gaza including at least 22 children, say reports
(about 5 hours later)
The strikes reportedly killed at least 18 people and came after Benjamin Netanyahu announced the military would enter the strip ‘with full force’ Bombardment signals new escalation after Netanyahu said Israel would ‘go in with full force to complete the operation’
Israeli strikes on hospitals in Gaza on Tuesday reportedly killed at least 18 people, after a brief pause in fighting which saw the release of 21-year-old Israeli-American Edan Alexander, who had been in Hamas captivity since the 7 October 2023 attack. An intense wave of Israeli bombing has reportedly killed dozens of people in Gaza, including many children, signalling a new escalation at a critical moment in regional politics.
The strikes hit the European Hospital complex near Khan Younis and left large craters gouged into the ground and cracks in the courtyard outside the European Hospital complex, images from the AFP news agency show. A damaged bus was lodged in a hole in the road. The exact number of deaths from the attacks was unclear, with estimates ranging from about 30 to more than 50, making it one of the highest tolls in a single morning for many weeks.
“Everyone inside the hospital – patients and wounded alike – was running in fear, some on crutches, others screaming for their children, while others were being dragged on beds,” Amro Tabash, a local photojournalist, told AFP. The Associated Press, citing local hospitals, reported that at least 22 children were killed by Israeli airstrikes in Gaza overnight on Tuesday and early on Wednesday. Reuters quoted local authorities and medical officials who said at least 50 died in strikes on Wednesday morning on houses in Jabaliya, in northern Gaza.
Israeli media reported that the target of the strikes on the European Hospital complex was Hamas leader Mohammed Sinwar, brother of the group’s previous leader, Yahya Sinwar, who was killed in an Israeli operation in October 2024. Israel’s military said it hit a “Hamas command centre” beneath the hospital. The intense bombardment comes as Donald Trump continues his Middle East visit and follows a brief pause in Israel’s ongoing offensive to allow the release by Hamas of the 21-year-old Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander, which raised hopes for a new ceasefire.
Hamas denies exploiting hospitals and civilian properties for military purposes Late on Tuesday, the Israeli military warned of imminent airstrikes on Jabaliya and nearby Beit Lahiya after Islamic Jihad, an Iranian-backed militant group in Gaza allied with Hamas, fired rockets towards Israel from the neighbourhoods.
The other strike hit Gaza’s Nasser hospital, which the Israeli military said targeted “eliminated significant Hamas terrorists”, among them a well-known Palestinian journalist, Hassan Aslih. Gaza’s health ministry said one other person died in the Nasser hospital strike. One Israeli strike hit the European hospital complex near Khan Younis on Tuesday evening, leaving large craters in its courtyard and the road outside. Witnesses described scenes of panic at the hospital, one of the few still functioning in Gaza after 19 months of conflict.
Amro Tabash, a local photojournalist, said: “Everyone inside the hospital – patients and wounded alike – was running in fear, some on crutches, others screaming for their children, while others were being dragged on beds.”
Israeli media reported that the target of the strikes on the European hospital complex was the Hamas leader, Mohammed Sinwar, brother of the group’s previous leader, Yahya Sinwar, who was killed in an Israeli operation in October 2024. Israel’s military said it hit a “Hamas command centre” beneath the hospital.
Hamas denies exploiting hospitals and civilian properties for military purposes.
Another strike hit Nasser hospital, which the Israeli military said “eliminated significant Hamas terrorists”, among them a well-known Palestinian journalist, Hassan Aslih. Gaza’s health ministry said one other person died in the Nasser hospital strike.
Israel had accused Aslih of participating in Hamas’s 7 October 2023 attacks. It has said Aslih documented and uploaded footage of “looting, arson and murder” during the Hamas-led incursion into Israel.Israel had accused Aslih of participating in Hamas’s 7 October 2023 attacks. It has said Aslih documented and uploaded footage of “looting, arson and murder” during the Hamas-led incursion into Israel.
The release of 21-year-old Israeli-American Edan Alexander offered a brief pause in the fighting on Monday. But the strikes resumed amid fierce new criticism of Israel’s tactics in the war. The release of Alexander, who had been in Hamas captivity since the group launched its surprise attack in October 2023, prompted celebrations in Israel. Of the 58 hostages still held in Gaza, about half are believed to be dead.
“In the very coming days, we are going in with full force to complete the operation,” Netanyahu was quoted as saying in a statement released on Tuesday. Speaking in Riyadh on Tuesday, Trump said more hostages would follow Alexander and added that the people of Gaza deserved a better future.
On Monday, Netanyahu said his country’s operation in Gaza would be considered complete only when Hamas is destroyed. Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s prime minister, and Israeli officials have promised to increase the military pressure on Hamas. “In the very coming days, we are going in with full force to complete the operation,” Netanyahu was quoted as saying in a statement released on Tuesday.
“There will be no situation where we stop the war,” he said. “A temporary ceasefire might happen, but we are going all the way.” On Monday, he said the war in Gaza would be considered complete only when Hamas was destroyed. “There will be no situation where we stop the war,” he said. “A temporary ceasefire might happen, but we are going all the way.”
UN relief chief Tom Fletcher called on the UN security council to take action “to prevent genocide” in Gaza as he gave a scathing account of Israel’s actions in the territory. Israel imposed a blockade on the devastated Palestinian territory, cutting off all supplies including food, medicine, shelter and fuel, 10 weeks ago. Earlier this week, food security experts said Gaza faced a “critical risk of famine” after a “major deterioration” in the food security situation there.
“Will you act – decisively – to prevent genocide and to ensure respect for international humanitarian law?” he said to UN ambassadors in New York. Netanyahu credited Alexander’s release on Monday to a combination of “our military pressure and the political pressure exerted by President Trump”. This has been rejected by Hamas, which has said it engaged in direct talks with Washington on a ceasefire in Gaza.
Late on Tuesday, the Israeli military urged civilians in several parts of northern Gaza to evacuate after it intercepted “two projectiles” fired from the territory. The armed wing of Hamas ally Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for rocket fire into Israel, which has been rare in recent weeks. Trump arrived in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday to start a Gulf tour that will also take him to Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
Netanyahu credited Alexander’s release on Monday to a combination of “our military pressure and the political pressure exerted by President Trump.” This has been rejected by Hamas, which has said it engaged in direct talks with Washington on a ceasefire in Gaza. Hamas’s 2023 attack on Israel resulted in the deaths of 1,218 people, mostly civilians. Militants abducted 251 people. The ensuing Israeli offensive has killed at least 52,908 people in Gaza, mostly civilians, according to data from the Hamas-run health ministry that is considered reliable by the UN.
Netanyahu thanked Trump for helping in the release and said he would be sending negotiators to Qatar on Tuesday to discuss remaining captives. Trump arrived in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday to start a Gulf tour that will also take him to Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
Hamas’s 2023 attack on Israel resulted in the deaths of 1,218 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official data.
Militants also abducted 251 people, of whom 57 are still being held in Gaza, including 34 declared dead by the Israeli army.
The Israeli offensive in retaliation for the attack has killed at least 52,908 people in Gaza, mostly civilians, according to data from the Hamas-run health ministry, which is considered reliable by the UN.