Israeli Airstrikes Kill Dozens in Gaza, Targeting Hospital, Northern Areas

Israeli airstrikes have continued to pummel the Gaza Strip, killing at least 33 people, including 20 in the northern town of Beit Lahiya, Al Jazeera reports.

The latest attacks targeted the last partially functioning hospital in the area, Kamal Adwan Hospital, injuring medics and patients.

“The upper floors were damaged and some of the children and newborn babies were injured,” said Eid Sabbah, the hospital’s director of nursing. “Journalists, nurses and other medical staff were also injured.” This is the second attack on the hospital in as many days.

Just a week ago, Israeli forces raided the hospital, detaining dozens of people, including most of its medical staff. The facility is now left with only four doctors and 50 volunteers to provide care.

The attacks come amidst a surge in Israeli military operations in the north, targeting Beit Lahiya, Jabalia, and Beit Hanoon. While Israel has issued displacement orders for civilians, tens of thousands remain in the north, fearing the danger of Israeli snipers, attacks in so-called “safe zones,” and potential permanent displacement.

The Israeli military claims its attacks are aimed at preventing Hamas fighters from regrouping. However, the intensified strikes, coupled with a tightening siege in the north, are further restricting humanitarian aid to the already struggling population.

In October, Israel reduced the daily number of humanitarian trucks allowed into Gaza to 30, a mere 6% of pre-war levels. Additionally, Israel officially ended its agreement with UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, alleging that some of its staff were Hamas fighters. The move is expected to cripple aid efforts in Gaza, according to UNRWA.

While the US issued a warning to Israel in October, urging it to improve the humanitarian situation within 30 days, US officials admitted that the progress hasn’t been “good enough.”

“They certainly do not have a pass… They have failed to implement all the things that we recommended,” said State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller, but declined to specify the consequences Israel could face.

The US, Israel’s primary arms supplier, has urged the country to increase humanitarian aid to Gaza.

Since the start of the conflict on October 7, 2023, Israeli strikes have killed at least 43,374 Palestinians and wounded 102,261. The Hamas-led attacks that day resulted in the deaths of 1,139 people in Israel and the capture of over 200.