Israeli Airstrike Destroys Gaza Medical Center Amid Intensified Offensive

On Tuesday, the Palestinian Medical Relief Society reported that an Israeli airstrike demolished its six-story health facility in the central Samer area of Gaza City. The center, previously evacuated under Israeli orders, provided critical services including blood donations, trauma care, and treatment for cancer and chronic diseases. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military.

In a related development, Israel announced the indefinite closure of the Allenby Bridge Crossing between the West Bank and Jordan, following a recent attack that killed two Israelis. This crossing is vital for Palestinian passengers and the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza.

Multiple hospitals in Gaza City have ceased operations due to ongoing Israeli military actions. Israel has accused Hamas of utilizing medical facilities for military purposes, though evidence supporting these claims has often been limited. The World Health Organization's Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, condemned the strike, stating, "Attacks on health facilities must end. The senseless violence must stop. Ceasefire!"

The medical charity reported that another of its centers was damaged and surrounded by Israeli troops, while a third center was destroyed in a separate strike. Gaza’s Health Ministry indicated that the Al-Rantisi Children’s Hospital and the Specialized Eye Hospital have been forced to shut down due to nearby Israeli military operations.

Internationally, 24 nations, including Canada, France, and Germany, have called on Israel to restore a medical corridor for Palestinians in Gaza to receive treatment in East Jerusalem and the West Bank, and to lift restrictions on medical supplies entering Gaza.

The conflict, initiated by a Hamas-led attack in October 2023 that resulted in approximately 1,200 Israeli deaths and 251 hostages, has led to significant casualties and displacement in Gaza. The Gaza Health Ministry reports at least 65,382 Palestinian deaths, though it does not specify the number of civilians versus combatants. The United Nations and independent experts consider these figures to be the most reliable estimates of wartime casualties.