At the same time, local health officials reported four people killed in Israeli strikes in other parts of the territory.
Read more Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the attack by Israeli settlers in a West Bank village
This is the latest bloodshed in the war-torn territory, occurring despite the US-backed ceasefire that took effect in October 2025, with Israel continuing to target Palestinians who, according to the military, are combatants.
The military said it struck the leader of “Hamas,” who “was hiding in the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital compound,” but could not immediately confirm if he was killed.
According to military representatives, the leader, whose identity they did not disclose, organized “attacks against the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and civilians” and was a target in a building adjacent to the hospital wards.
“Earlier today, the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital was attacked, hitting a small storage building,” said hospital director Raed Hussein.
“Fortunately, major casualties were avoided, except for four lightly injured individuals,” he told AFP news agency, adding that the strike “caused significant material damage.”
AFP footage from the scene shows several damaged water tanks on the building’s roof and debris below.
The military reported taking measures to “reduce the risk to civilians,” adding that two days ago it warned Gaza Strip medical institutions about “the cessation of the use of medical facilities for terrorist purposes.”
The organization “Doctors Without Borders” (MSF) stated it was “shocked by reports of an Israeli airstrike on the Al-Aqsa hospital compound,” adding that “hospitals should be safe places for patients and healthcare workers.”
Read more Lithuanian convicted in Belarus for transporting tourists to the Chernobyl zone
“At a time when Israeli forces continuously target hospitals, it is crucial that all parties respect and preserve the neutrality and protection of medical facilities,” the organization wrote on the platform “X.”
The Gaza Strip Civil Defense Agency, operating as a rescue service subordinate to “Hamas,” stated that four people were killed in other strikes across the territory on Saturday.
According to the agency, one person was killed by Israeli fire east of Deir al-Balah. The Israeli military said it was investigating these reports.
Two people were killed and several others injured in an Israeli strike near the roundabout in the Tel al-Hawa neighborhood of Gaza City, the civil defense said.
When contacted by AFP, the Israeli military confirmed it struck a “military operative” in this area.
Israel continues strikes in the Gaza Strip, and its forces keep advancing despite the US-mediated ceasefire announced in October. Israel claims it must eliminate threats posed by “Hamas” – the group that carried out an unprecedented attack against Israel on October 7, 2023.
Since the ceasefire took effect, Israeli operations in the Gaza Strip have claimed at least 1,313 lives, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health. This institution operates under “Hamas” control, and its data is considered reliable by the United Nations (UN).
The Israeli military reported five deaths in its ranks during the same period, as well as the death of one civilian contractor.
Read more Inseparable: Martinez – the eighth Chelsea and Aston Villa deal in four years
