Israeli strike on Gaza’s Al-Aqsa hospital kills four, injures 17: WHO

An Israeli airstrike on Al-Aqsa hospital in Gaza killed four people and wounded another 17, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

The strike was witnessed by a World Health Organization team at the hospital to assess needs and to collect incubators for the north of Gaza, he wrote, adding: “WHO staff are all accounted for.”

Tedros renewed his appeal for patients, health professionals and aid workers to be protected during the conflict, and for attacks on hospitals to stop.

“A WHO team was on a humanitarian mission at Al-Aqsa Hospital in Gaza, when a tent camp inside the hospital compound was hit by an Israeli airstrike today,” he wrote.

“We again call for protection of patients, health personnel and humanitarian missions,” he added.

“The ongoing attacks and militarisation of hospitals must stop. International humanitarian law must be respected.”

Israel’s military said the airstrike was against a command center allegedly operated by the armed Islamic Jihad group in the courtyard of the hospital.

“The command center and terrorists were struck precisely, intended on minimizing harm to uninvolved civilians in the area of the hospital,” the military said. “The Al-Aqsa Hospital building was not damaged and its functioning was not affected.”

Israel says hospitals in Gaza are used by Hamas and other militant groups as bases, and has released videos and pictures supporting the claim. Hamas and medical staff deny this.

Tedros urged all parties to the conflict to comply with the UN Security Council resolution calling for a ceasefire.