Israeli military strikes killed at least two Palestinians and severely damaged medical supply facilities at a major hospital in the Gaza Strip on Saturday, intensifying humanitarian concerns despite renewed diplomatic efforts aimed at ending nearly two years of war. The attacks came less than 24 hours after Hamas announced it had accepted a proposed agreement that would include the transfer of its weapons and a phased Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza, though Israeli officials have yet to publicly endorse the framework.
The latest violence underscored the fragile reality on the ground, where military operations continue even as indirect negotiations over a potential ceasefire gather momentum. Israeli officials have indicated that any lasting agreement would depend on Hamas undergoing what they describe as genuine disarmament, signaling that significant differences remain before any comprehensive deal can be finalized.
Health officials in Gaza said one person was killed in a drone strike in the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood of Gaza City early Saturday. Al-Shifa Hospital received the victim along with several wounded civilians, according to medical authorities.
The Israeli military acknowledged carrying out a strike in the area, saying it had targeted what it described as a Hamas operative. Military officials said they were still reviewing the results of the operation and did not immediately comment on civilian casualties reported by Palestinian authorities.
A separate Israeli drone strike in Deir al-Balah, in central Gaza, killed another person and wounded several others, according to Al-Aqsa Hospital. Israeli forces similarly said the target was a Hamas military operative operating in the area.
Beyond the casualties, one of the most significant incidents overnight involved Al-Aqsa Hospital itself. Gaza’s Civil Defense agency reported that an Israeli strike caused extensive destruction to storage facilities used for medicines and medical equipment, raising concerns about the territory’s already strained healthcare system.
The Palestinian Health Ministry accused Israeli forces of destroying two of the hospital’s four medical warehouses while heavily damaging the remaining facilities. Officials said an adjacent outpatient clinic also sustained substantial structural damage.
According to the ministry, the attack resulted in the destruction or loss of critical medical supplies intended for treating wounded civilians and patients suffering from chronic illnesses. The ministry warned that the damage would further weaken Gaza’s healthcare capacity at a time when hospitals continue to face shortages of medicine, fuel and essential equipment.
Images from the hospital complex showed a large crater carved into the ground near the storage buildings, with scattered boxes of medical supplies strewn across the site. Residents and hospital workers sifted through the debris in an effort to salvage whatever equipment remained usable.
Among those caught in the attack was 33-year-old Jaber Abed, who said his family had been sheltering in tents beside the hospital before fleeing as explosions erupted before sunrise.
Abed expressed hope that negotiations could finally produce a permanent end to the conflict but remained skeptical that any agreement would be fully implemented without sustained international pressure, particularly from the United States.
Diplomatic uncertainty continued to overshadow developments on the battlefield. Hamas political bureau member Bassem Naim said responsibility now rested with Israel to respond to the proposed ceasefire arrangement, urging international mediators to pressure Israel to halt what he described as repeated violations.
Israeli authorities have not formally responded to Hamas’ announcement that it had accepted the proposed framework. However, political sources have indicated that Israel rejects any suggestion of withdrawing its forces without concrete guarantees that Hamas will surrender its military capabilities.
The differing public positions illustrate the central obstacle that has repeatedly stalled negotiations. While Hamas has indicated a willingness to discuss political arrangements, Israel continues to insist that eliminating Hamas’ military infrastructure remains a non-negotiable condition for ending the conflict.
Although a ceasefire declared in October significantly reduced the intensity of fighting, Israeli military operations have continued across Gaza. Israel maintains that its strikes target militants planning or carrying out attacks, while Palestinian officials and humanitarian organizations say civilians and civilian infrastructure continue to bear a devastating toll.
The continued strikes on medical facilities have renewed concerns among humanitarian organizations about the condition of Gaza’s healthcare network, much of which has been damaged during months of conflict. Repeated attacks, shortages of medicine and equipment, and limited access to humanitarian aid have left hospitals struggling to provide essential treatment for thousands of wounded civilians.
As mediators continue efforts to bridge the remaining gaps between the two sides, Saturday’s violence highlighted how fragile prospects for a lasting ceasefire remain. With military operations continuing alongside diplomatic negotiations, civilians across Gaza remain caught between hopes for an end to the war and the reality of ongoing airstrikes, humanitarian hardship and deep political mistrust.
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