At least 83 Palestinians were killed in a new wave of Israeli strikes on Gaza, as bombardments targeted areas near some of the last functioning hospitals and intensified ground operations in Gaza City.
Missiles hit zones surrounding al-Shifa and al-Ahli hospitals, cutting off crucial lifelines for the sick, injured, and displaced. Fifteen people died outside al-Shifa, while four others were killed in a separate attack near al-Ahli. Strikes also hit al-Rantisi Hospital, which cares for children, forcing 40 young patients to flee while dozens remained trapped with staff inside.
The escalation has drawn condemnation as civilians continue to bear the heaviest burden. Health officials described the attacks on medical facilities as part of a systematic campaign to dismantle Gaza’s fragile healthcare system. Aid groups warned of “medicide” – the killing of health workers and destruction of hospitals – leaving thousands without access to treatment.
Among those killed was a nurse and father of three who had been serving in clinics across Gaza. His death underscored the mounting toll on frontline health staff who work in dangerous conditions with dwindling supplies.
Reports indicate that Thursday’s casualties included 61 people in Gaza City, where tanks, jets, and naval forces flattened homes and entire neighborhoods. Families in refugee camps such as Shati were hit directly, with mothers and children among the dead. Residents described the scale of bombardment as unprecedented, leaving many displaced people with no safe refuge.
Israel’s designation of al-Mawasi in southern Gaza as a “safe zone” has provided little protection. The area, overcrowded with displaced families, suffers severe shortages of food, water, and health services. Outbreaks of disease are spreading rapidly, while strikes continue even in zones marked as safe.
Despite risks, thousands have returned north only to find their homes destroyed. In Tal al-Hawa, entire blocks were obliterated after the detonation of booby-trapped vehicles. Aid deliveries to northern Gaza remain blocked, with famine deepening and humanitarian corridors cut off since early September.
Since the war began in October 2023, more than 65,000 Palestinians have been killed and over 165,000 wounded, with thousands still trapped beneath rubble. The devastation of health infrastructure, combined with mass displacement and famine, paints a grim picture of Gaza’s future as civilians continue to face relentless assault.
