Israel strikes a hospital in Gaza, killing six people: ‘It was a Hamas operations centre’

Israel carried out an air strike on what it described as an operational “centre” of the militant group Hamas inside a hospital in Gaza; according to the Palestinian territory’s health authorities, six people – including members of medical staff – were killed.

The attack, which took place on Thursday before dawn on Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis, was one of the deadliest since a fragile ceasefire came into force in Gaza over a year ago. Since then, Israel has frequently struck the enclave, stating that its military operations are aimed at preventing the Iran-backed group from reorganising itself.

The Israeli Defence Forces stated in a press release that certain senior Hamas figures were using the hospital for command and control operations, weapons storage and interrogations. The Hamas-controlled Ministry of Health in Gaza condemned the attack, reporting that six people had been killed, including ‘medical staff, patients and their carers’.

According to the Ministry of Health in Gaza, more than 74,000 people have been killed in the Strip since October 2023. The conflict began three years ago, following an attack by Hamas militants in southern Israel, which resulted in around 1,200 casualties and the abduction of around 250 hostages. Hamas is regarded as a terrorist organisation by Israel and most Western countries.

At this time of political transition, with Eisenkot attempting to form a government and Netanyahu putting up a fight, Israel seems more focused on the enemy within than on the threat from neighbouring Iran. “The Israeli political-military cabinet has ordered the IDF to raise its state of readiness in anticipation of a possible attack on Iran” reported Israeli public broadcaster Kan late in the evening, whilst emphasising, however, that the cabinet has not met at all in the past month (the last meeting was on 5 October). The same broadcaster reports that “a meeting could take place next Sunday, noting that it would be the first in five weeks”. The Council of Ministers – Kan writes – is said to have instructed the IDF to “raise its state of readiness in view of the possibility of an attack on Iran”. According to Israeli media, this news is said to be at the root of the fierce clash that has taken place in recent hours between Netanyahu and the leader of the Change Bloc, Eisenkot. The latter has warned the outgoing prime minister not to “mobilise the security forces without a direct and immediate threat” until the new government is formed, as the Jerusalem Post also reports. Eisenkot has also asked the government’s legal adviser to provide updates on the security situation.