Israeli airstrikes killed over 100 Palestinians in a single day as Gaza’s vital European Hospital was shut down due to targeted attacks, leaving cancer patients without treatment.
At a Glance
- Israeli airstrikes in Khan Younis killed over 50 people in a single night, including a journalist and 11 family members
- Gaza’s European Hospital, the only facility for cancer treatments, is now out of service after being struck by nine Israeli missiles
- Israel claims the hospital contained a Hamas command center, justifying the attacks
- The 19-month conflict has displaced 90% of Gaza’s population with nearly half a million Palestinians facing potential starvation
- Netanyahu has vowed to continue the war even if a hostage release deal is reached
Deadly Airstrikes Escalate Gaza Conflict
Overnight airstrikes in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, killed over 50 people, marking a second consecutive night of heavy bombing. The Associated Press reported 10 airstrikes in the area, with 54 confirmed dead, including a journalist from Al Araby TV and 11 of his family members. The Civil Defence agency in Gaza continues recovering more victims, with some bodies still unrecovered due to the intensity of the bombardment. These airstrikes coincided with U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit to the Middle East, though he did not visit Israel during his trip.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has explicitly stated Israel will not halt its war on Gaza, even if a deal is reached to release captives. This conflict, which began after a Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, that killed 1,200 people, has resulted in nearly 53,000 Palestinian deaths, with a significant number being women and children. The ongoing Israeli blockade has now entered its third month, intensifying the humanitarian crisis throughout the region.
Wounds Without Doctors: The Layered Collapse of Gaza’s Hospital Systems
In Gaza, the hospital systems have become a paradox of war: places of refuge and care, yet also sites of unimaginable suffering and collapse. As the 2023–2025 conflict escalated, the health infrastructure,… pic.twitter.com/C5KbNt7CJS
— Niels Groeneveld (@nigroeneveld) May 6, 2025
Critical Hospital Infrastructure Destroyed
Nine Israeli missiles struck the European Gaza Hospital in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, killing at least 16 people and wounding 70 others. Particularly concerning are reports indicating a second round of Israeli missiles targeted rescue operations at the hospital. The European Hospital was the only facility in Gaza providing cancer treatments, and its shutdown has left countless patients without access to specialized care, including cardiac surgeries and other essential medical services.
Israel has admitted to a targeted attack on the Nasser Medical Complex in a separate incident, killing two people, including journalist Hassan Eslaih, who was a director of the Alam24 News Agency. Israeli authorities accused Eslaih of being a Hamas fighter, which he had denied. Doctors Without Borders reported that the Nasser Hospital was targeted for the second time in seven weeks, severely hampering their medical operations in the region.
Chatting with Grok about the legality and morality of targeting journalists, first in general, then specifically, got to a very good response in my view on why Israel's killing of journalists is deeply problematic to say the least: https://t.co/LfgA7gjZQI
— Joel D. Parker (@J_d_parker) May 18, 2025
Humanitarian Crisis Deepens as Health System Collapses
The Israeli military claims these hospitals were targeted because they contained Hamas command centers, an assertion that has been used to justify multiple hospital strikes throughout the conflict. Since the war began, Israel has bombed or burned at least 36 hospitals in Gaza, despite such actions being considered illegal under the 1949 Geneva Conventions. Human Rights Watch has criticized Israel’s military plans, suggesting they approach extermination, and called for urgent international intervention.
The conflict has now displaced approximately 90% of Gaza’s population and halted virtually all humanitarian aid, leading to severe food insecurity throughout the territory. Nearly half a million Palestinians face potential starvation, with an additional 1 million struggling to access adequate food supplies. French President Emmanuel Macron has criticized Netanyahu’s policy in Gaza, suggesting European nations should consider sanctions against Israel. Meanwhile, Human Rights Watch continues to urge action under the Genocide Convention while also calling for Hamas to release all hostages.
