CNN
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Israel attacked hospitals in Gaza early Tuesday, a day after temporarily suspending military operations for Hamas’ release of Israeli-American Edan Alexander.
Israeli forces resumed strikes in Gaza about an hour after Alexander left the territory, attacking the Nasser Medical Complex in southern Gaza on Tuesday after raiding the Al-Dalazi district of northern Gaza on Monday evening.
The IDF strike targeted the surgical ward on the third floor of the hospital. This is currently “completely unserved,” killing two patients and injuring medical staff, Palestinian Medical Assistance (MAP) said.
The strike target looked like Hassan Esreia, a well-known Gaza photojournalist. He was being treated at a hospital after being injured in an early targeted Israeli airstrike in April.
The IDF claimed that at the time of the strike in April, Esreia had participated in the attack on Israel on October 7, 2023 and was part of Hamas’ Karnnis Brigade, but provided no evidence to support the claim. He claimed he worked as a “pronounced a journalist and owned a news company.” On Tuesday, Israeli forces said they “stricken a critical Hamas terrorist” at Nasser Hospital, but did not name him Esreia.
Esreia traveled to Israel on October 7, 2023 to document the attacks of photographs published by several major news organizations. He previously said that there was no prediction of an attack and rushed to the scene along with other photojournalists to document a major news event.
CNN, along with other press, regularly used materials provided by Eslaiah. CNN cut ties with Hamas in November 2023 after new allegations of ties with Hamas were revealed. CNN said on October 7, 2023 it was not collaborating with the network.
Eslaia said she faced “false allegations” from the IDF from her hospital bed in April and “whether or not she’s fighting.”
The Ramala-based Palestinian Journalist Conservation Centre condemned Esreia’s murder and called for an international investigation into what they described as “a vicious assassination.” The center was called Esreia killing “the intentional targeting of the voice of truth.”
The Nasser Hospital strike on Tuesday is the latest example of Israel’s intentional attack on health facilities in Gaza, where Israel has been accused of violating international law.
According to the Geneva Convention, hospitals are entitled to special protection during armed conflicts under international humanitarian law and can only be targeted in very limited circumstances.
According to the medical activities coordinator at Nasser Hospital-based MAP, the latest attack on Nasser Hospital “completely destroys” two patient rooms and partially damages the other three and the nursing station.
“The extension of the intensive care unit, which includes three ICU beds, was also affected. Its electrical and oxygen systems were damaged by the strike. We made the entire section unoperated,” the coordinator said in a statement provided by MAP.
The strike adds to a situation that is already rapidly deteriorating for healthcare facilities in Gaza.
Dr Atef Al-Hout, medical director at Nasser Hospital, said that amid the current 10-week strip lockdown in Israel, the hospital is rapidly running out of fuel to drive generators.
Following the release of Israeli-American hostage Alexander, the United States is renewing its push for a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas.
The Israeli delegation was scheduled to fly to Qatar on Tuesday to resume negotiations, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed that these talks will continue “under fire.”
