Israeli strikes in Gaza on Saturday killed two people and heavily damaged warehouses storing hospital medical supplies, according to Gaza civil defence and medical sources. The Israeli military said it targeted five Hamas weapons depots and militants in Sheikh Radwan and Deir el-Balah. Hospitals reported casualties and extensive loss of medical stock, while restrictions on access mean figures cannot be independently verified. The attacks followed Hamas' claim of a ceasefire deal that Israel has not formally confirmed.
Israeli Strikes Kill Two in Gaza, Devastate Hospital Medical Supply Warehouses
Despite a ceasefire declared in October between Israel and Hamas, Israeli fire continues to regularly target Palestinians the military says are militants (Eyad Baba)
Israeli strikes across the Gaza Strip on Saturday killed two people and caused serious damage to warehouses holding hospital medical supplies, Gaza's civil defence agency and medical sources said.
The Israeli military said it had targeted five Hamas weapons depots and struck suspected militants in Sheikh Radwan in Gaza City and in Deir el-Balah in the central Gaza Strip.
Hospital Casualties and Damage
Al-Shifa Hospital reported receiving one body and several wounded following a drone strike in the Sheikh Radwan neighbourhood. In Deir el-Balah, Al-Aqsa Hospital likewise received one body and multiple injured after a separate drone strike.
Gaza's civil defence agency said the strikes caused "extensive damage" to a storage facility that held medicines and medical supplies for Al-Aqsa Hospital. The Palestinian health ministry condemned the strikes, saying two of four warehouses were "obliterated" and the adjacent outpatient clinic building suffered significant damage.
"Vital quantities of medical consumables and supplies intended for the care of patients and the wounded were lost or destroyed," the ministry said.
Military Claims and Context
The Israeli military told AFP it was "aware of one strike in the area on a Hamas terrorist" near Sheikh Radwan and said it had dismantled five Hamas weapons storage facilities across Gaza. It later stated that a weapons storage site adjacent to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir el-Balah had been used as a hideout by Hamas operatives.
Israel has repeatedly accused Hamas of storing fighters and weapons inside civilian infrastructure; Hamas denies responsibility for civilian harm and says it is pursuing a ceasefire deal that would include handing over weapons and a phased Israeli withdrawal.
Ceasefire Claims and Responses
The strikes occurred a day after Hamas announced it had agreed to a deal to end the war that includes disarmament and phased Israeli withdrawal. Israel has not formally confirmed the agreement; a political source told AFP there would be no withdrawal without "genuine disarmament" by Hamas.
Hamas political bureau member Bassem Naim told AFP the "ball is currently in the Israeli occupation's court" and urged mediators to pressure Israel to halt violations of the ceasefire.
On-the-Ground Scene and Verification Limits
AFP footage from the site showed a large crater and dozens of Palestinians sifting through scattered medical supplies. Jaber Abed, 33, who fled a nearby tent with his family, told AFP: "I hope the war truly ends and that we can live like human beings." He added he did not expect Israel to implement a ceasefire agreement without international pressure.
Restrictions on media and limited access in Gaza prevent independent verification of casualty figures and damage assessments.
Sources: Gaza civil defence, Palestinian health ministry, Al-Shifa and Al-Aqsa hospitals, and statements from the Israeli military; reporting by AFP.
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