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The strike hit the Kuwaiti Field Hospital in the Muwasi area,
where hundreds of thousands have sought shelter in sprawling
tent camps. The wounded were all patients and medics, and two of
the patients were in critical condition after the strike, said
Saber Mohammed, a hospital spokesman.
There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military.
The military has struck hospitals on several occasions during
the 18-month war, accusing Hamas militants of hiding out in them
or using them for military purposes. Hospital staff have denied
the allegations and accused Israel of recklessly endangering
civilians and gutting the territory's health system.
On Sunday, Israel struck the last major hospital providing
critical care in northern Gaza after ordering an evacuation. A
patient died during the evacuation, and the strike severely
damaged the emergency room, pharmacy and surrounding buildings,
according to Al-Ahli Hospital.
The Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem, which runs the hospital,
condemned the strike.
Israel said it targeted a Hamas command and control center
within the facility, without providing evidence. Hamas denied
the allegations.
The war began when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel
on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians,
and abducting 251. Fifty-nine hostages are still inside Gaza, 24
of whom are believed to be alive, after most of the rest were
released in ceasefire agreements or other deals.
Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed over 51,000 people,
according to an updated toll released by Gaza's Health Ministry
on Tuesday. That includes more than 1,600 people killed since
Israel ended a ceasefire and resumed its offensive last month to
pressure Hamas to accept changes to the agreement.
The ministry is led by medical professionals but reports to the
Hamas-run government. Its toll is seen as generally reliable by
U.N. agencies and independent experts, though Israel has
challenged its numbers. Israel says it has killed some 20,000
militants, without providing evidence.
The ministry does not say how many were civilians or combatants
but says women and children make up more than half of the dead.
The offensive has destroyed much of the territory and displaced
around 90% of its population of roughly 2 million Palestinians.
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Magdy reported from Cairo.
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