Scores Perish in Nighttime Strikes over Southern Gaza, Reports Hospital

Palestinians in Gaza City hurriedly left locations after the Israeli military issued warnings to evacuate schools and a hospital in the Rimal area on Wednesday, May 14, 2025.

In the late hours of Wednesday, successive airstrikes targeted Khan Younis, a southern city in the Gaza Strip, resulting in the tragic loss of over 50 lives during a second night of intense bombing.

These bombardments coincided with U.S. President Donald Trump's tour of the Middle East, which included visits to several Gulf nations but notably excluded Israel. There was initial optimism that the President's visit might lead to a ceasefire agreement or a renewal of humanitarian relief to Gaza, which has been under an Israeli blockade for three months.

An Associated Press video journalist stationed in Khan Younis recorded ten separate strikes as the city was bombarded overnight, personally witnessing numerous bodies being brought to Nasser Hospital's morgue, with some bodies fragmented and some bags containing multiple individuals' remains. The morgue at the hospital later confirmed a total of 54 individuals had perished.

Among the deceased was a journalist from the Qatari television network Al Araby TV, named Hasan Samour. The network reported on social media that Samour was killed alongside 11 of his family members during one of the Khan Younis strikes.

The Israeli military provided no comments regarding these airstrikes.

This was the second consecutive night of severe bombardments, following attacks on Wednesday throughout northern and southern Gaza that claimed at least 70 lives, including nearly 24 children.

Escalation Promised by Israel

Israel, under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has pledged to intensify its military operations in Gaza with the objective of dismantling Hamas, which governs the region. Earlier in the week, Netanyahu articulated that Israeli forces were only days away from entering Gaza with decisive force to 'complete the mission' of eradicating Hamas.

International body Human Rights Watch issued a statement on Thursday highlighting that Israel’s plan to enter Gaza and displace sizable numbers of civilians is perilously close to genocide, urging global voices to raise their concerns.

The conflict was sparked when militants, led by Hamas, killed 1,200 civilians during an October 7, 2023 incursion into southern Israel. Since then, Israel’s counter-offensive has resulted in nearly 53,000 Palestinian deaths, many of whom were women and children, according to the Health Ministry in Gaza. The ministry noted that almost 3,000 have been killed since Israel disrupted a ceasefire on March 18.

Currently, Hamas continues to detain 58 of the original 250 hostages taken during the October 7 attack. While 23 are believed to be alive, Israeli officials express concern regarding the conditions of three of these individuals.

Healthcare Crisis: Key Hospital Closes Amid Strikes

The Health Ministry reported on Thursday that Israeli airstrikes have forced the closure of the European Hospital in Khan Younis, the lone facility in Gaza offering cancer treatments, due to substantial damage to its infrastructure and access routes.

This cessation has effectively halted specialized medical services, including cardiology and cancer care.

The Israeli military acknowledged targeting a Hamas command post situated beneath the hospital with two airstrikes on Tuesday, resulting in six deaths.

Imad al-Hout, the hospital's director, informed the Associated Press that at the time of the strikes, 200 patients were hospitalized. These patients were systematically evacuated, with the remaining 90 transferred to other hospitals such as Nasser Hospital by Wednesday morning. Plans are being made to commence repairs on the facility.

Humanitarian Crisis Amid Prolonged Blockade

As Israel continues its aggressive military actions in Gaza, 90% of the population has been displaced, often more than once, following widespread destruction. Additionally, all aid shipments, including food and medicine, have been barred entry since March 2, raising international alarms of potential famine unless the blockade is relaxed and military actions cease.

Reports from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification indicate that nearly half a million Gazans are teetering on the brink of starvation, while roughly one million struggle to secure sufficient nourishment.

Human Rights Watch insists that Israel's prolonged blockade, coupled with the ongoing obliteration of civilian infrastructure, demands urgent intervention from Genocide Convention signatories to halt Israeli measures.

In response, Israel strongly denies accusations of committing genocide.

The advocacy group also pressed Hamas to release the remaining hostages.