Israeli Airstrike Hits Gaza Hospital, Claims Senior Hamas Leader

An Israeli airstrike on Nasser Hospital in Gaza reportedly kills a senior Hamas figure and injures numerous others. This escalation marks a continuation of military confrontations, following Hamas’s October attack on Israel.

An Israeli airstrike on Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, Gaza, resulted in the death of Ismail Barhoum, a senior Hamas official responsible for financial affairs, and his aide, according to reports from a Hamas spokesperson. Barhoum had been receiving medical treatment at the facility after being injured in a previous airstrike four days earlier. The Israeli military confirmed the strike, stating it targeted a significant Hamas leader identified through extensive intelligence, claiming the use of "precise munitions" to minimize collateral damage.

However, the Hamas-run health ministry reported that many others, including hospital staff, sustained injuries from this attack, leading to significant destruction within the hospital. Visual evidence verified by the BBC displayed efforts to combat a fire that erupted following the strike.

The Israeli Defense Forces have long accused Hamas of using hospitals as operational bases, a claim the group refutes. In a separate operation, another Hamas leader, Salah al-Bardaweel, was reportedly killed in Khan Younis the same day, according to Hamas officials.

As of Sunday morning, prior to the latest hospital strike, the health ministry indicated that at least 30 individuals had lost their lives in Khan Younis and Rafah due to prior Israeli airstrikes. Renewed military actions began on March 18, after a temporary ceasefire that lasted nearly two months. Israel has stated that its military campaign was prompted by Hamas's rejection of a U.S. proposal to extend the truce. The conflict traces back to Hamas's assault on Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in approximately 1,200 fatalities, predominantly among civilians, and the abduction of 251 individuals. In retaliation, Israel has launched extensive operations in Gaza, which, according to the health ministry, have led to over 50,000 deaths in the region since the offensive commenced.