Israeli air attacks at a Gaza hospital killed a senior Hamas leader and aide on Sunday evening, Hamas officials told the BBC.
Ismail Balkham, the head of the group’s financial affairs, was killed on a strike at Nasser Hospital, the main medical facility of Khan Eunice.
He was being treated at a hospital after being injured in an airstrike four days ago, officials said.
Israeli military said it had hit a major Hamas member operating within the hospital’s compounds following a “extensive intelligence report collection process,” saying “precise ammunition” was used to mitigate harm.
Hamaslan Health Ministry said “many other people” were injured, including medical personnel.
After most of the cases were destroyed, the hospital department hit was evacuated, the ministry said.
Video verified by the BBC shows people trying to put out the fire after a strike.
Israel has repeatedly accused Hamas of using hospitals as a location for weapons and command centers that the group has denied.
Another Hamas leader, Sarah al-Baldaweer, was killed in another Israeli airstrike at Khan Yunis on Sunday, officials told the BBC.
At least 30 people had died in Khan Yunis and Rafa as of Sunday morning before the evening hospital strike, the health ministry said.
Israel resumed its military campaign in Gaza on March 18, ending a ceasefire that lasted almost two months. Hundreds of people have been killed on strike since.
Israel accused Hamas of rejecting a new US proposal to extend the ceasefire. Hamas accused Israel of abandoning the original deal that it agreed to in January.
The war was caused by Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023. There, about 1,200 mostly civilians were killed, and 251 were taken hostage.
Israel responded to the October 7 attack in a military attack in Gaza to destroy Hamas, which killed more than 50,000 people, Hamaslan Health Ministry said.
