Intensification of Israeli Attacks and Evacuation Order for Khan Younis; Part of Al-Ahli Hospital Destroyed

Israel intensified its attacks on the Gaza Strip early Sunday, April 24, targeting a hospital in the northern part of the enclave. The Israeli Defense Minister announced that military operations would rapidly expand across Gaza and residents must evacuate from 'conflict areas.' Health officials in Gaza reported that the Israeli army targeted Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza City with an airstrike before dawn, resulting in part of the hospital being destroyed. This attack occurred minutes after the Israeli army warned of the evacuation of patients and their companions, leading to the destruction of the surgical building and the oxygen production station. The Associated Press reported that during the evacuation of the hospital, a young girl died due to the inability of medical staff to provide immediate care. The hospital, managed by the Jerusalem Patriarchate, condemned the Israeli attack in a statement, noting that it occurred on 'Palm Sunday, the beginning of Holy Week for Christians.' 'Palm Sunday' is one of the significant days in the Christian calendar and marks the beginning of 'Holy Week,' which culminates in Easter. The Israeli army claimed that the target of this attack was a Hamas command and control center located in the hospital, which was 'used to plan and execute attacks against civilians and Israeli forces.' Israel added that 'precision weapons and aerial surveillance' were used for this air operation. The extremist group Hamas, recognized as a terrorist organization by the U.S. and the European Union, rejected these claims and called for an independent international investigation. Hours later, in a separate attack on a vehicle in Deir al-Balah in central Gaza, at least seven people were killed. According to the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, these individuals were six brothers and one of their friends, the youngest being 10 years old. The Israeli army stated that the details of the deadly attack on this vehicle 'are under investigation.' In the southern city of Khan Younis, at least three others were reported killed in other attacks, according to Nasser Hospital. The Israeli army also stated that another command center in the Deir al-Balah area, which was a Hamas presence, was targeted. Health officials in the Gaza Strip reported that in the past 24 hours, 11 people have been killed and over 100 injured in Israeli attacks. The war in Gaza began after Hamas's attack on October 7, 2023, during which 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were killed and 251 taken hostage. Many of the hostages were released in ceasefire agreements. According to the Gaza Health Ministry, which operates under Hamas, over 50,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli ground and air attacks, more than half of whom were women and children. The Sunday attacks came just hours after the Israeli Defense Minister announced that military operations across Gaza would rapidly expand and residents must evacuate from 'conflict areas.' Israel announced on Saturday that it had completed the Morag corridor, separating the city of Rafah from other parts of Gaza. Hours after Israel announced that the complete siege of Rafah in southern Gaza was finalized, its army issued an evacuation order for Khan Younis. Hundreds of thousands of residents from Rafah have already left the area, and according to the Israeli army's statement, residents of Khan Younis must also leave their homes. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant stated on Saturday that the Israeli army, by seizing the buffer zone between Rafah and Khan Younis, is integrating the entire Philadelphi corridor at the Egyptian border into the Israeli security zone. With control over new crossings such as Morag and Netzarim and the establishment of a buffer zone, Israel now dominates over 50% of the Gaza Strip. Israeli officials have stated that pressure will continue until the release of the remaining 59 hostages (24 of whom are likely alive) and the acceptance of new ceasefire conditions by Hamas. The organization 'Medical Aid for Palestinians' announced that the attack on Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza was the fifth attack on this hospital since the war began. Medical facilities are sometimes targeted in wars, but such attacks are usually justified as 'accidental' or 'exceptional,' as hospitals are afforded special protection under international law. However, in the Gaza war, which has lasted for 18 months, Israel has repeatedly attacked hospitals and accused Hamas of military use of them. Last month, Israel targeted Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, the largest hospital in southern Gaza.