Gaza Hospital Director Killed in Airstrike as Civilian Toll Mounts

The Gaza Health Ministry reports that the director of Gaza's Indonesian Hospital was killed in an Israeli airstrike on his home, along with several family members. The ministry described Dr. Marwan Sultan as a dedicated doctor with many years of service and condemned what they called a "heinous crime" against medical staff.

The Israeli military claimed to have targeted a "key terrorist" from Hamas in Gaza City and said they are investigating reports that unrelated civilians may also have been hurt in the strike. At least five people died and others, including children, were wounded in another attack on the al-Mawasi "safe zone," according to news agencies.

The health ministry highlighted Dr. Sultan’s compassionate work, calling him a symbol of dedication and bravery during the difficult times faced by Palestinians under ongoing aggression. He was the head of the Indonesian Hospital, which was later declared out of service due to repeated Israeli strikes causing significant structural damage, as the UN described. The Israeli military said it was targeting Hamas infrastructure in the area.

Currently, there are no operational hospitals in northern Gaza, the UN reports. The health ministry accused Israeli forces of deliberately targeting medical and humanitarian teams. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) responded by saying they regret any harm to civilians and work to limit unintended damage as much as possible. They claimed Hamas uses civilian areas for military purposes and uses civilians as human shields, violating international law.

In just 24 hours before midday Wednesday, Israeli operations killed at least 139 people in Gaza, the health ministry said. In al-Mawasi, a strike hit a tent where displaced families were staying, killing five and injuring others, including children. Family members said the attack occurred around 12:40 AM local time, while they were sleeping. Tamam Abu Rizq described the scene as shaking like an earthquake, then running outside to see the tent on fire.

The Israeli military declared al-Mawasi a “safe zone,” but the UN estimates that 80% of Gaza is either an Israeli military zone or under evacuation orders. Maha Abu Rizq questioned the safety, asking, “What did they do?” when civilians were killed in what was meant to be a secure area. At the scene, a man held up a pack of nappies and asked rhetorically, “Is this a weapon?”

Children injured in the strikes were seen being rushed into Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis. AFP footage shows families carrying bloodied children inside while young ones cry. Women mourn their relatives at funerals held outside the hospital. Ekram al-Akhras, who lost several cousins, called for an end to the war, saying, “Everyone must stand up and say enough.”

In Gaza City, another family was hit by an Israeli air strike, killing four members. They were identified as Ahmed Ayyad Zeno, his wife Ayat, and their daughters Zahra and Obaida. The Palestinian news agency WAFA confirmed their deaths. The IDF has been contacted for comment on these incidents.

Save the Children worker Rachel Cummings shared that children in Gaza are now wishing to die during group activities, hoping to reunite with lost parents or escape hunger and thirst. Meanwhile, temperatures in Gaza reached over 30°C during a heatwave sweeping Europe and the UK. Displaced families living in tents find it hard to stay cool. They lack electricity and water, making life even more difficult.

Reda Abu Hadayed described the heat as “indescribable,” with her children unable to sleep. She said they cry all day until sunset when it cools down a little. Then they sleep until morning, when the heat begins again. Amid ongoing bombings and restrictions on aid, mediators work to negotiate a ceasefire.

Since Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, killing around 1,200 people and taking 251 as hostages, Israel’s military has intensified its operations in Gaza. The health ministry estimates that over 57,000 people have been killed by Israeli strikes so far.