The Israeli military confirmed on Tuesday that it had bombed a hospital in the city of Khan Younis, in southern Gaza, claiming the facility was being used by Hamas for “terrorist activities.” The strike coincided with the death of Palestinian journalist Hasan Aslih, who was hospitalized after being wounded in a previous Israeli air raid.
Aslih, director of the news outlet Alam24 and a contributor to several local and Arab media organizations, was killed while receiving treatment at Nasser Hospital. According to Mahmoud Basal, spokesperson for Gaza’s Civil Defense, the Israeli army targeted the hospital’s surgical ward early Tuesday morning, killing the journalist and at least one other person. Several others were injured, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
The journalist had previously been injured in April during an Israeli airstrike that targeted a tent used by reporters.
This latest attack ends a brief pause in hostilities that had been allowed to facilitate the release of Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander, who had been held by Hamas since the October 7, 2023, attack.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that the Israeli army would soon intensify its operations in Gaza. “In the coming days, we will go in with full force to complete the mission. Completing the mission means defeating and destroying Hamas,” he said in a statement. Netanyahu ruled out a permanent ceasefire: “There may be a temporary truce, but we are going all the way.”
The prime minister also revealed that Israel is working to find countries willing to receive Gaza’s civilian population. “We have established an administration to allow Gaza residents to leave, but we need countries willing to take them in,” Netanyahu said during a meeting with wounded soldiers. He added that he believes more than 50% of Gaza’s population would be willing to leave if given the option.
