Israeli Forces Intensify Gaza Offensive, Destroy Cancer Hospital Amid Rising Death Toll
Israeli forces have advanced further into Gaza, destroying the only cancer hospital in the region. Nearly 600 Palestinians have been killed since the ceasefire ended. Israel claims Hamas was using the hospital as a base, but Turkey condemned the attack, calling it an effort to make Gaza unlivable. Dr. Zaki Al-Zaqzouq stated the hospital was still partially functional before its destruction. Human rights groups accuse Israel of targeting Gaza’s healthcare system. Israel is intensifying operations, threatening to seize more land until Hamas releases hostages.
New evacuation warnings were issued as Hamas resumed rocket attacks. In Israel, tensions rise as Netanyahu moves to dismiss Shin Bet’s chief, sparking protests. Critics see this as a power grab to avoid accountability for security failures. The war has killed over 49,000 Palestinians, mostly civilians, while Israel blocks humanitarian aid. Israel claims to have killed 20,000 militants but has not provided evidence. The humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to worsen.
Israeli Forces Intensify Gaza Offensive, Destroy Cancer Hospital Amid Rising Death Toll
Israeli forces have pushed deeper into Gaza, intensifying their military campaign and destroying the region’s only cancer treatment center. The collapse of a temporary ceasefire on Tuesday has led to a surge in violence, with nearly 600 Palestinians killed in recent days.
The destroyed facility, the Turkish-Palestinian Friendship Hospital, was located in the Netzarim Corridor—a strategic area that divides Gaza and has been under Israeli military control for much of the war. Israeli officials claimed that Hamas was using the hospital as a military base, justifying the attack. However, Turkey, which funded and built the hospital, condemned the strike, accusing Israel of deliberately targeting essential infrastructure to render Gaza uninhabitable.
Dr. Zaki Al-Zaqzouq, the hospital’s oncology director, stated that during the brief ceasefire, staff inspected the building and found parts of it still functional. He expressed shock over the decision to demolish a facility that provided life-saving care to thousands of cancer patients, many of whom now have no access to treatment.
Under international law, hospitals lose their protected status if used for military purposes, but any attack must be proportionate to the threat. Human rights organizations argue that Israel is systematically dismantling Gaza’s healthcare system, leaving civilians without access to critical medical care.
Meanwhile, Israel has expanded its military operations, vowing to seize more territory until Hamas releases the remaining 59 hostages taken during the October 7 attacks. Defense Minister Israel Katz warned that Hamas’ continued resistance would result in further Israeli territorial gains. Evacuation orders have been issued for neighborhoods west of Gaza City as troops prepare for ground assaults. In response, Hamas has resumed rocket fire into Israel, though most projectiles have reportedly been intercepted.
The death toll continues to rise. Since the ceasefire ended, over 600 Palestinians have been killed, adding to a total that now exceeds 49,000 since the war began. Gaza’s health ministry reports that more than half of the casualties are women and children. Israel claims that 20,000 Hamas militants are among the dead but has not provided evidence. With borders closed to aid shipments, Gaza is facing severe shortages of food, fuel, and medical supplies, deepening an already dire humanitarian crisis.
In Israel, political tensions are escalating as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attempts to remove Ronen Bar, the head of the Shin Bet internal security agency. Critics accuse Netanyahu of trying to consolidate power and evade accountability for intelligence failures leading up to Hamas’ October 7 attack, which killed 1,200 Israelis and resulted in 251 hostages. Thousands have protested in support of Bar, reflecting growing public frustration with the government’s handling of the war and hostage crisis.
The destruction of the Turkish-Palestinian Friendship Hospital highlights the devastating impact of the war on civilians. Cancer patients, including children, now face an impossible choice: remain in Gaza without treatment or risk dangerous journeys in search of medical care abroad. International aid groups warn that the collapse of Gaza’s healthcare system could lead to countless preventable deaths.
As the conflict rages on, diplomatic efforts to broker another ceasefire have stalled. Hamas demands a permanent end to hostilities and an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, while Israel insists on dismantling Hamas’ military capabilities. With neither side willing to compromise, the cycle of violence continues, leaving civilians trapped in an unrelenting humanitarian crisis.