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2025 Gaza European Hospital strikes

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2025 Gaza European Hospital strike
Part of the Gaza war and genocide
Gaza European Hospital is located in the Gaza Strip
Gaza European Hospital
Gaza European Hospital
LocationGaza European Hospital, Al-Fukhari, Gaza Strip, Palestine
Date13 May 2025
TargetMohammed Sinwar
Attack type
Airstrikes, drone strikes
Deaths28+
Injured40+
Perpetrator Israeli Air Force

On 13 May 2025, an Israeli airstrike struck the Gaza European Hospital in Khan Yunis, Gaza Strip, killing at least 28 people[1][2][3] and injuring at least 40 people.[4] Israeli sources reported that Hamas leader Mohammed Sinwar was targeted, however his death is unconfirmed.

Airstrikes

CCTV footage of one of the strikes
video icon CCTV footage shows the moment an Israeli strike targeted the European Hospital in southern Gaza (via the Associated Press)

On 13 May 2025, at 6:19 p.m.,[5] Israeli Air Force warplanes simultaneously dropped at least nine bunker busting bombs among dozens of other munitions, hitting the courtyard and surrounding area of the Gaza European Hospital in Khan Yunis, which is one of Gaza's largest medical facilities and houses displaced Palestinians alongside its patients and staff.[6][7] It was described by CNN as "some of the largest strikes in Gaza in recent weeks",[8] and was the second fatal Israeli attack on a hospital that day, coming after an attack on the Nasser Hospital that killed two people.[9] According to a witness, the bombardment "began from all sides of the hospital" and lasted for almost half-an-hour.[10]

Videos from the scene of the strikes displayed large plumes of smoke over the area. At least six craters were formed in the area, including at the emergency room entrance and the hospital's access route,[11] causing several vehicles to be buried.[3] The ground collapsed in the area that was struck, suggesting the existence of an underground complex.[12][11] A witness recalled seeing the ground "split open and swallow people".[10] Major damage was reported to the hospital's entrance,[6] and a witness claimed that every department of the building suffered damage as a result of the attacks.[10] Hospital director Imad al-Hout stated that the strikes disabled the hospital, cut off its water supply, damaged walls and pipes, and led to the evacuation of the majority of the hospital's 200 patients.[13]

In a joint statement, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Shin Bet claimed that the strike targeted Hamas militants within a command and control center underneath the hospital.[14] The IDF later released footage that it claimed showed a tunnel uncovered by the strike, although the video showed footage from the Jenin School, which is adjacent to the hospital. The IDF Spokesperson's Unit later claimed that the tunnel extended to the hospital, without providing evidence.[11][12] Israeli security sources stated that Hamas leader Mohammed Sinwar was the target of the strike, although the IDF itself did not confirm the target's identity.[10] Sinwar took leadership of the group's military wing after Mohammed Deif was assassinated in July 2024, and became the de facto leader of the group after his brother, Yahya Sinwar, was killed by Israeli forces in October.[15][12] Later reports by Israeli defense sources speculated that a number of other senior Hamas commanders may have also been in the tunnel, including the head of its Rafah Brigade, Muhammad Shabana, and the group's spokesman, Abu Obaida.[16][17]

The strikes were approved "in real time" by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Israel Katz, and Chief of the General Staff Eyal Zamir, who saw it as an "immediate opportunity" upon discovering that no Israeli hostages were in the area.[18]

Following the initial strikes, Israeli drones remained in the area, upholding a siege of the hospital to prevent the recovery of casualties.[15] Two Palestinian Civil Defence members were injured in a quadcopter drone strike while approaching the hospital.[3] Al Jazeera reported that six further strikes occurred in the hospital area the following day, with one striking a bulldozer in the courtyard.[19]

Casualties

The Gaza Health Ministry stated that 28 people were killed in the strikes and dozens were wounded. Among the injured was a freelance journalist who worked for the BBC.[3][20] According to the Palestinian Civil Defence, bodies were scattered throughout the hospital complex, hampering recovery operations.[9] The casualties were taken to the Nasser Hospital, where medical staff were overwhelmed.[3]

Fate of Sinwar

It is unclear if Mohammed Sinwar was killed in the strike, and the IDF is investigating whether it successfully assassinated him. According to security sources, Sinwar had a low chance of survival if he was in the tunnel during the strikes.[12] Hamas did not comment on reports that he was killed,[3] but denied that it had military bases in the hospital, instead claiming that Israel sought to put the hospital out of service.[6]

References

  1. ^ "Israel's latest attacks on Gaza hospitals killed at least 28 people". Al Jazeera. 13 May 2025.
  2. ^ "Israeli strikes on Gaza hospital kill 28". The New Arab. 13 May 2025. Retrieved 13 May 2025.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Abualouf, Rushdi; Comerford, Ruth (13 May 2025). "Israeli air strike on hospital kills 28 people in Gaza, civil defence says". BBC News. Retrieved 13 May 2025.
  4. ^ Livni, Ephrat (2025-05-14). "What to Know About Muhammad Sinwar, the Hamas Leader Targeted by Israel". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2025-05-14.
  5. ^ Chekuru, Kavitha. "Israeli Forces Bombed Two Gaza Hospitals in One Day". Drop Site News. Retrieved 2025-05-15.
  6. ^ a b c Berger, Miriam; Rubin, Shira; Soroka, Lior; Parker, Claire; Balousha, Hazem (13 April 2025). "Israel says strikes on Gaza hospital complex targeted underground bunker". The Washington Post. Retrieved 13 April 2025.
  7. ^ Bodkin, Henry (14 May 2025). "Israel may have assassinated Hamas leader who resisted hostage deal". The Daily Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 14 May 2025.
  8. ^ Liebermann, Oren; Diamond, Jeremy; Karni, Dana; Salman, Abeer; Dahman, Ibrahim (13 May 2025). "Israel targets Hamas leader Mohammed Sinwar in hospital strike in Gaza, sources say". CNN. Retrieved 13 May 2025.
  9. ^ a b "Israel bombs two Gaza hospitals, killing at least 18 Palestinians". Al Jazeera. 13 May 2025. Retrieved 13 May 2025.
  10. ^ a b c d Hajjaj, Tareq S. (2025-05-15). "'The ground split and swallowed them': Survivors of European Hospital bombing in Gaza recount deadly Israeli attack". Mondoweiss. Retrieved 2025-05-16.
  11. ^ a b c Peleg, Bar; Hasson, Nir; Scharf, Avi (14 May 2025). "Israeli Army Claimed Hamas Tunnel Was Under Gaza Hospital, but Showed Footage of Nearby School". Haaretz. Retrieved 14 May 2025.
  12. ^ a b c d Fabian, Emanuel (13 May 2025). "Hamas's Gaza leader Muhammad Sinwar targeted in IDF strike, fate unclear". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 13 May 2025.
  13. ^ Kingsley, Patrick (2025-05-14). "Gaza Hospital Strike Draws New Attention to Israel's Medical Facility Attacks". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2025-05-15.
  14. ^ Peleg, Bar (13 May 2025). "IDF targets Hamas Gaza leader Mohammed Sinwar in strike on European Hospital in Khan Yunis". Haaretz. Archived from the original on 13 May 2025. Retrieved 13 May 2025.
  15. ^ a b Stein, Amichai (13 May 2025). "IDF attempts to assassinate Hamas leader Mohammed Sinwar in Gaza hospital, sources tell 'Post'". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 13 May 2025.
  16. ^ Kimon, Elisha Ben (14 May 2025). "Hamas spokesman, Rafah Brigade commander also killed with Sinwar, IDF believes". Ynet. Retrieved 14 May 2025.
  17. ^ Jeremy Bob, Yonah (14 May 2025). "Hamas Rafah brigade commander probably killed in IDF strike on Sinwar". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 14 May 2025.
  18. ^ Weiss, Mark (14 May 2025). "It may take weeks to confirm if Muhammad Sinwar was killed in air strike on Khan Younis hospital". The Irish Times. Retrieved 14 May 2025.
  19. ^ "Israeli air strikes pummel vicinity of European Hospital". Middle East Eye. Retrieved 2025-05-14.
  20. ^ Stanley-Smith, Joe (13 May 2025). "Israel bombs European Hospital in Gaza on eve of US ceasefire talks". Politico. Retrieved 13 May 2025.
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