At least 46 Palestinians were killed in Israeli airstrikes across Gaza on Thursday, with the northern region heavily targeted, including a strike on Kamal Adwan Hospital that destroyed medical supplies and disrupted essential services, health officials reported. Israel’s military stated it suspects the hospital is being used for Hamas operations, a claim denied by hospital authorities and Hamas.

Hospital Attack Sparks Outcry

According to Eid Sabbah, the director of the Kamal Adwan Hospital, some staff members were slightly injured, and its medical supplies were burned. In contrast, others were temporarily halted by an attack launched on Beit Lahiya. Israeli forces had occupied the hospital for a while last week before taking 90 suspected Hamas militants. Military operations have been ramped up as Israeli tanks remain near the area.

The country’s military claimed Hamas was hiding militants in the hospital and that some of them were dressed as hospital staff. Gaza’s health ministry urged international bodies to protect hospitals and healthcare professionals amid the escalating fighting.

More Killed in Airstrike at Nuseirat Camp

A fresh airstrike hit two houses in the central Gaza Nuseirat camp Thursday, killing at least 16 people, including a paramedic and two journalists, medics from Al-Awda Hospital reported. Israel has concentrated its military campaign on northern Gaza, where it says it had earlier this year disassembled Hamas’s command structure.

International Calls to Protect Medical Workers

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) also stated that one of its doctors, Mohammed Obeid, was arrested last Saturday by Israeli forces in Kamal Adwan Hospital, pleading for the protection of healthcare workers amidst rising tensions.

Background and Rising Casualties

The present fighting started on October 7 when Hamas-led militants attacked Israel with a deadly raid, killing nearly 1,200 Israelis and kidnapping 251 hostages, according to reports from Israel. After such an attack, the Israeli military launched an offensive at Gaza with the result of killing more than 43,000 Palestinians and causing massive destruction on the land, as stated in the reports of Palestinians.

Escalating violence has further deteriorated the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with much of the territory lying in ruins and straining the few remaining medical facilities. Low supplies and damage to critical infrastructure are making it increasingly difficult for hospitals to care for the injured, as limited electricity and clean water make conditions challenging. Repeated calls from aid organizations have asked for safe corridors to deliver much-needed resources and measures to protect civilians living through conditions nearing catastrophic levels. The growing international appeals call on immediate steps to halt hostilities to preserve the poor Gaza population, regional leaders have said.