An Israeli airstrike reportedly damaged a section of the Al-Ahli hospital in Gaza City early Sunday, according to Gaza’s civil defence agency.
This occurred after Israel claimed control of a corridor within the territory and announced plans for an expanded military operation.
While there were no immediate reports of casualties, the Israeli military stated they were investigating the incident.
The Gaza Civil Defence Agency reported that the strike targeted the hospital’s surgery building and oxygen supply, following a warning to evacuate.
Hospitals, protected under international law, have been repeatedly hit during the conflict between Israel and Hamas, which began on October 7, 2023.
Israel alleges Hamas uses these facilities for military purposes, a claim Hamas denies.
Al-Ahli Hospital was previously damaged in a deadly explosion in October 2023, with Israel blaming a misfired rocket from Islamic Jihad.
Hamas accuses Israel of systematically targeting Gaza’s hospitals through bombings and destruction, rendering many non-operational.
The World Health Organisation reported that only 22 of Gaza’s 36 hospitals were partially functional as of late March.
The conflict resumed with Hamas’s October 2023 attack on Israel, resulting in over 1,200 deaths. Gaza’s health ministry reports that over 1,500 Palestinians have been killed since March 18, bringing the total Palestinian death toll to over 50,000.
