GAZA/TEL AVIV: Israeli air strikes on Saturday resulted in the deaths of two Palestinians in Gaza and the destruction of two warehouses containing medical supplies near a hospital, amid ongoing confusion over a possible agreement with Hamas regarding disarmament.
Palestinian health officials reported that the air strike targeted individuals in the Sheikh Radwan area of Gaza City, claiming the victims were linked to Hamas, although a military spokesperson provided no further details.
Earlier, an Israeli air strike destroyed two warehouses associated with Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah, southern Gaza, which were believed to be storing essential medicines, according to the Palestinian health ministry. Hours later, the Israeli military stated it had hit a Hamas hideout near the hospital, claiming it was used for storing weapons, but did not provide evidence to support this assertion.
Footage from the scene showed a large crater and debris scattered across the area, including what appeared to be medical supplies, close to a nearby tent encampment. The Palestinian health officials noted that the strike also damaged the hospital’s outpatient clinic and several other warehouses, although no injuries were immediately reported.
The hospital indicated that the supplies destroyed included critical items for treating kidney failure patients who relied on dialysis, as well as materials necessary for wound care. Khalil al-Daqran, a doctor at the hospital, condemned the strike, calling it a “heinous crime.” He described it as targeting a warehouse containing vital medical supplies for the hospital.
Witnesses stated that the military did issue a warning for people to evacuate the area before conducting the strike. International humanitarian law offers protection to hospitals and other civilian sites, but such protection can be challenged if they are suspected of being used for military purposes. The Israeli military asserts that Hamas operates within civilian areas, including hospitals.
Fatima Sharab, a 34-year-old displaced mother of two living in a tent nearby, reported that the strike had destroyed shelters for many families, displacing 60 to 70 people who had sought refuge close to the hospital.
Since a ceasefire was agreed upon last October, the Israeli military has continued its operations in Gaza, resulting in the deaths of 1,222 Palestinians in the past nine months, with many of the victims identified as women and children. Hamas rarely discloses casualty figures.
