An Israeli air strike has killed 28 people and injured dozens at the European Hospital in Khan Younis, reported BBC, quoting a spokesman for the Hamas-run civil defence agency.
Israeli warplanes dropped six bombs simultaneously on the Gaza hospital, hitting both its inner courtyard and surrounding area, said the BBC report, quoting local sources.
News agency Xinhua said that at least six Palestinians were killed and 40 others injured in the attack , Gaza-based health authorities said in a statement on Tuesday.
The Palestinian official news agency WAFA reported that 16 people had died in the strike, while other media outlets cited rescuers who put the death toll at 28, reported Xinhua.
Palestinian security sources said the hospital was hit by at least six missiles. Videos circulating on social media showed significant damage to the facility.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement that it had carried out a "precise strike" in coordination with the Israel Security Agency, targeting Hamas operatives located beneath the hospital.
According to the IDF, the strike was aimed at an underground Hamas command and control centre. The military accused Hamas of continuing to use hospitals in Gaza to conceal militant infrastructure.
Israeli state broadcaster Kan and other media outlets reported that the strike targeted Hamas figure Mohammed Sinwar. It remained unclear whether he was among the casualties. Sinwar is the younger brother of former Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, who was killed by Israeli forces in southern Gaza in October last year.
Hamas, in a statement issued Tuesday, rejected the Israeli claims, calling them "lies and attempts to mislead international public opinion." The group accused Israel of exploiting such allegations to justify attacks on Gaza's healthcare system and to "terrorise civilians." The statement did not address whether Mohammed Sinwar was present at the site.
Source: www.dailyfinland.fi
