At least 46 Palestinians were killed in Israeli military strikes across the Gaza Strip on Thursday, according to health officials in the enclave. The majority of the casualties occurred in the north, where one attack struck the Kamal Adwan Hospital in Beit Lahiya, igniting medical supplies and disrupting critical operations.
The Israeli military has accused the Palestinian militant group Hamas of using the Kamal Adwan Hospital for military purposes, alleging that “dozens of terrorists” have been hiding there. Health officials and Hamas have denied these charges.
Later on Thursday, an Israeli airstrike targeted two houses in the Nuseirat camp in central Gaza, resulting in at least 16 deaths, according to medics at Al-Awda Hospital. The victims included a paramedic and two local journalists.
Northern Gaza remains the focal point of Israel’s military operations. Earlier this month, Israeli forces entered Jabalia, Beit Hanoun, and Beit Lahiya in efforts to dismantle Hamas’ command structure and flush out militants.
Eid Sabbah, director of nursing at Kamal Adwan Hospital, reported that some staff members suffered minor burns from the strike on the hospital’s third floor. There were no reported casualties at the hospital, which Israeli forces stormed and briefly occupied last week. Israeli tanks continue to be stationed nearby.
The Health Ministry in the Hamas-run Gaza Strip called on international bodies “to protect hospitals and medical staff from the brutality of the occupation.”
The Israeli military stated that its forces are operating in the area based on intelligence about militant activity. “During the operation, it was found that dozens of terrorists were hiding in the hospital, with some even posing as hospital staff,” said the military in a statement following Thursday’s strike.
The conflict escalated after militants led by Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, resulting in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people and the abduction of 251 hostages, according to Israeli sources.
Since then, Israel’s military response has led to the deaths of more than 43,000 Palestinians and has reduced much of the Gaza Strip to rubble, Palestinian authorities report.
