Topline
An Israeli airstrike in Gaza City killed hundreds of people at a Palestinian hospital, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry, in the latest attack on the Palestinian territory following militant group Hamas’ deadly offensive against Israel just over a week ago.
Key Facts
The airstrike, which hit Gaza’s Ahli Arab Hospital, killed at least 200 people, a Palestinian Health Ministry spokesperson initially told the New York Times, saying the death toll from the strike is likely to increase.
Multiple outlets, citing the Health Ministry, put the number of casualties from the strike at 500—hospitals have been functioning as a refugee camp for displaced Palestinians for the past week.
The strike is the latest Israeli-led counter-offensive in the 10 days since Hamas launched an assault on Israel, killing thousands of Israeli citizens.
Key Background
Israel’s military last week gave more than one million Gaza residents in the densely populated territory 24 hours to evacuate to the strip’s southern border, following Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s declaration of war against Hamas, and his warning that Israel’s mission in the war is to “destroy” the military group that rules Gaza—The United Nations, however, cautioned such a swift evacuation would be “impossible” without “devastating humanitarian consequences.”
Tangent
The UN’s Palestinian Refugee Agency also warned on Tuesday that fuel reserves at Gaza hospitals are running precariously low, with just another 24 hours left of energy from generators, putting the “lives of thousands of patients at serious risk.” Gaza’s lone power plant had shut down late last week after Israeli officials cut energy—and food—to the territory as part of its “complete siege” on Gaza. Due to Israel’s blockade of Gaza, UN authorities also warned they would not be able to continue providing humanitarian aid into Gaza, though Israel reportedly agreed to let water and medicine into the territory through Egypt, following pleas from the U.S.
Chief Critic
Hamas’ attack—the deadliest on Israel in years, killing thousands of Israeli citizens prompting a major retaliation from Israel’s military—has been widely condemned by western officials, including President Joe Biden, who called the attack “horrific,” and vowed to “stand ready to offer all appropriate means of support” to Israel. Biden is slated to visit Israel on Wednesday in a show of “steadfast support,” according to White House officials.
Israel Orders 1.1 Million Gaza Residents To Relocate Within 24 Hours, UN Says It’s ‘Impossible’ (Forbes)
UN Body Warns Hospitals Have 24 Hours Of Fuel As Israeli Airstrikes Hit Southern Gaza (Forbes)
Read the full article here