CAIRO: An Israeli airstrike at a medical clinic in Gaza City killed, Hani Al-Jaafarawi, the director of Gaza’s Ambulance and Emergency Department, the besieged Palestinian enclave’s health ministry said. Meanwhile, Israel’s military claimed the strike successfully targeted Mohammad Salah, a senior commander responsible for developing weaponry for Hamas.
The strike on the medical facility marked a tragic turn in the ongoing violence, bringing the toll of medical staff killed by Israeli actions since October 7 to 500, with at least 300 others detained, as reported by Gaza’s health authorities.
Meanwhile, Israeli forces continued their ground offensive in Rafah, a city near the border with Egypt. Residents reported heavy fighting as Israeli tanks advanced from eastern and southern parts of Rafah into western and northern areas. Many families in the Mawasi displaced persons’ camp were forced to flee towards Khan Younis and Deir Al-Balah amid the advancing tanks.
Bassam, a resident of Rafah, described the dire situation in Tel Al-Sultan, where Israeli drones and snipers targeted Palestinian civilians attempting to check on their homes. He reported widespread destruction of homes and casualties among residents.
The Israeli military defended its operations in Rafah as “intelligence-based targeted operations,” aimed at locating weapons and rocket launchers. The military also acknowledged ongoing operations in Gaza City’s Zeitoun suburb, previously thought to be calm.
The ongoing Israeli bombardment campaign, now in its eighth month, has seen devastating consequences for Gaza’s population, with nearly 37,600 Palestinians killed, mostly women and children, and widespread destruction across the enclave, according to Palestinian health authorities. The humanitarian situation has deteriorated significantly, exacerbated by the prolonged fighting and Israeli blockades.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu indicated in an interview with Israel’s Channel 14 that while the intense phase of fighting against Hamas would soon conclude, the broader operation would continue until what he termed the “eradication” of Hamas control in Gaza. Netanyahu also hinted at redeploying Israeli forces from Gaza to the north, citing potential threats from Lebanon’s Hezbollah, which has shown solidarity with Palestinians along the border.
International efforts to broker a ceasefire have so far failed to yield tangible results, with both sides entrenched in their positions amid mounting casualties and destruction.
