At least 24 Palestinians were killed and dozens more were injured or remain missing after Israeli occupation forces launched a series of brutal airstrikes using incendiary munitions near the European Gaza Hospital in Khan Yunis, southern Gaza.

Gaza’s Civil Defense reported that rescue teams recovered the bodies of 24 victims and evacuated over 20 wounded individuals. However, their operations were obstructed when Israeli forces directly targeted the rescue crews with live fire. Several emergency personnel were injured, forcing a withdrawal from the site as dangerous conditions rendered continued operations impossible.

The attack involved a “fire belt” bombing pattern—a tactic known for maximizing destruction—which heavily damaged areas surrounding the hospital. Medical sources initially confirmed at least six deaths, with many more injured or trapped under the rubble.

The Palestinian Ministry of Health confirmed that both the hospital and surrounding civilian areas were subjected to sustained Israeli bombardment. The outer courtyard of the hospital was left in ruins, with numerous civilians buried beneath the debris. As the hospital struggled to absorb the influx of casualties, a state of emergency was declared at the nearby Nasser Medical Complex.

Journalist Amr Tabash, who was on the ground during the bombing, reported that the strike occurred as dozens of children and patients gathered in and around the hospital. Tabash described the explosion as so powerful that it hurled him and others several meters into the air. A metal shelter collapsed on top of them, shielding them from deadly shrapnel.

Tabash added that staff from the World Health Organization were present at the hospital at the time, alongside families preparing their children for medical evacuation abroad. Many of those now lie among the dead and wounded.

The massacre near the hospital is only the latest chapter in the ongoing Israeli genocide in Gaza, which has entered its 583rd day. The Palestinian death toll since October 2023 has reached 52,908, with another 119,721 wounded—predominantly women and children.

Since the collapse of the ceasefire on March 18, 2025, and the resumption of full-scale assaults, at least 2,780 more Palestinians have been killed, with 7,680 injured.

Despite the rising toll and systematic targeting of civilians and medical infrastructure, the international community continues to remain silent. Rescue efforts are ongoing, though severely hampered by Israeli attacks on emergency teams and widespread destruction. (ILKHA)