Israeli Airstrike Kills 8 at Gaza Hospital
Double-tap strike hits Nasser Hospital, targets rescue crews.
An Israeli airstrike targeted the fourth floor of Nasser Hospital, southern Gaza’s largest medical facility, on Monday, killing at least eight people, including journalists and civil defense workers, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The ministry described the attack as a “double-tap” strike, with a second missile striking moments after the first, deliberately targeting rescue crews and first responders who rushed to the scene.
Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis has been a critical lifeline for Gaza’s residents, enduring relentless raids and bombardments throughout the 22-month Israel-Gaza war. Hospital officials reported severe shortages of medical supplies, equipment, and staff, exacerbated by repeated attacks that have crippled its operations. Monday’s strike further strained the facility, which struggles to provide care amid escalating violence.
The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the incident. Israel has frequently targeted hospitals in Gaza, claiming that Hamas militants operate from within these facilities, though no evidence has been provided to substantiate these claims. A similar strike on Nasser Hospital in June killed three people and injured ten, with Israel alleging it targeted a Hamas command center.
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Gaza’s Health Ministry reported that the war, triggered by Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel, has resulted in 62,686 Palestinian deaths, with approximately half being women and children. The ministry’s casualty figures, deemed reliable by the UN and independent experts, are contested by Israel, which has not offered alternative estimates. The repeated targeting of civilian infrastructure, including hospitals, has intensified international calls for accountability as Gaza’s humanitarian crisis deepens.
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