Israel struck near a medical centre in Deir al-Balah, located in the central Gaza Strip, local health officials said on Thursday. According to their reports, at least 16 people, including children, were killed in the attack and many others were injured.
The strike came amid ongoing talks between Israel and Hamas, mediated by Qatar. The parties are discussing the possibility of a 60-day truce and the release of hostages, which could be a step towards a more long-term ceasefire. However, according to an Israeli official, a deal is unlikely to be reached in the next week or two.
According to Khalil al-Dakran, a spokesman for the Gaza Health Ministry, the strike hit an area near a medical centre, killing six children. Many of the wounded suffered severe head and chest injuries.
According to a statement by the Israeli army, the target of the strike was a militant involved in the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023. The military said it was aware of reports of civilian casualties and was investigating the incident.
Footage confirmed by Reuters shows the tragic aftermath of the strike: among the clouds of dust, the bodies of dead women and children are visible, screams can be heard, and children’s bodies are being carried away on a donkey cart.
Samah al-Nouri, whose daughter was killed, arrived at the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah, where the victims were taken. The woman said that her daughter had come to the hospital because of a sore throat. “They hit her with a shell. Her brother went to check and said that everyone was dead. Why? What did they do wrong? She just wanted to get better. Why did they kill her?” she said.
Due to an acute fuel shortage, the work of the remaining hospitals, including the neonatal ward at Shifa Hospital in Gaza, is under threat. According to its director, Mohammed Abu Selmia, four to five premature babies have to be placed in incubators at the same time.
