Two people were killed and three others injured in Israeli drone strikes across Gaza on Saturday, including an attack on a medical supply warehouse inside Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir el-Balah. The Israeli military claimed it targeted a Hamas commander, though no evidence was provided. Gaza’s Health Ministry reported 10 deaths in the past 48 hours as attacks escalate despite an ongoing ceasefire.
Hospital warehouse hit in Deir el-Balah
An Israeli drone strike targeted a tent used as a medical supply warehouse within the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital complex in central Gaza’s Deir el-Balah on Saturday. The attack injured three people, according to the hospital’s director. The Israeli military confirmed the strike, alleging without evidence that a Hamas commander was present at the site.
Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, one of the few remaining operational medical facilities in Gaza, has faced repeated threats during the conflict. The warehouse contained critical supplies, including medications and equipment needed for emergency care. Hospital officials stated that the strike disrupted operations, though no structural damage to the main buildings was reported.
Casualties in separate attacks
In Gaza City’s Tal al-Hawa neighborhood, an Israeli drone struck a motorcycle, killing at least one person and injuring two others. The victims were transported to al-Quds Field Hospital for treatment. Witnesses described the scene as chaotic, with debris scattered across the street.
Earlier in the day, Israeli gunfire killed one person in the village of al-Musaddar, east of Deir el-Balah. The circumstances of the shooting remain unclear, though local sources reported that the victim was unarmed. Additionally, an Israeli quadcopter dropped an explosive device near Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza, though no injuries were reported in that incident.
Escalating violence despite ceasefire
Gaza’s Health Ministry reported receiving 10 bodies over the past 48 hours—nine newly killed and one recovered from under rubble. Eighteen others were wounded in the same period. The ministry emphasized that many victims remain trapped under collapsed buildings or on roads inaccessible to ambulance crews due to ongoing hostilities.
Since the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas took effect in October 2023, the ministry has documented 1,313 Palestinian deaths from Israeli attacks. The figures include civilians and combatants, though the ministry does not distinguish between the two in its reports. The escalation in violence has raised concerns about the ceasefire’s viability, with both sides accusing the other of violations.
Thousands missing under rubble
The Palestinian Centre for Missing and Forcibly Disappeared Persons estimated on Saturday that between 4,000 and 5,000 Palestinians remain missing under rubble in Gaza. The center also reported that 2,500 to 3,000 people may have been subjected to forced disappearance during Israel’s military campaign, which it described as "genocidal."
The estimates are based on an analytical study of 317 cases, with findings suggesting a broader pattern of enforced disappearances. Of the sample, 95.27% were male, including 41 children and 17 individuals aged 60 or older. The center called for an independent investigation into the disappearances, citing the need for accountability.
Humanitarian crisis deepens
The latest attacks exacerbate an already dire humanitarian situation in Gaza. More than 73,000 Palestinians have been killed since the war began in October 2023, with over 174,000 injured, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. Women and children account for the majority of casualties, reflecting the conflict’s disproportionate impact on civilians.
Hospitals and medical facilities have been repeatedly targeted, further straining Gaza’s healthcare system. The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that the destruction of medical infrastructure could lead to preventable deaths from treatable conditions. Aid organizations continue to call for unimpeded access to deliver supplies and evacuate the wounded.
[EDITOR'S NOTE: This report is based on preliminary information from Gaza’s Health Ministry and local sources. Casualty figures and claims regarding military targets remain unverified by independent observers. The situation is fluid, and details may change as more information becomes available.]
