An Israeli airstrike targeted the northern gate of the Kuwaiti Field Hospital in Gaza’s Muwasi area on Tuesday, resulting in the death of one medic and injuries to nine others, including patients and medical staff, according to a hospital spokesperson.
The attack occurred in a region where hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians are sheltering in makeshift tent settlements. There was no immediate response or statement from the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) regarding the strike.
The Kuwaiti Field Hospital is among the few remaining medical facilities serving civilians in the southern part of the Gaza Strip, and Tuesday’s strike adds to a growing list of hospitals targeted during the ongoing war. Israel has routinely accused Hamas of utilising hospitals for military activities, a claim repeatedly denied by health workers and hospital administrators, who say such actions are jeopardising the entire medical infrastructure and placing countless civilian lives at risk.
Israel’s offensive in Gaza, now in its eighteenth month, has so far claimed the lives of more than 51,000 people, according to figures released by Gaza’s Health Ministry on Tuesday. Humanitarian conditions continue to deteriorate, especially after the collapse of the recent ceasefire agreement, with Israel cutting off the entry of food, medicine, and aid supplies and reportedly taking control of over half of the coastal enclave.
The conflict, which began after Hamas-led militants launched a deadly assault into southern Israel on 7 October 2023, has shown no sign of abating. In that attack, over 1,200 people, mainly civilians, were killed and 251 abducted. As of Tuesday, 59 hostages remain in Gaza, of whom 24 are believed to be alive.
Jordan arrests 16 in rare anti-terror operation
In a related development, Jordanian authorities announced the arrest of 16 individuals accused of plotting terror-related activities aimed at undermining national security. Government spokesman Mohammad al-Momani said the suspects had been under surveillance since 2021 and were detained in a rare counter-terrorism operation in the strategically vital US-allied kingdom.
The detainees face charges including the manufacturing of short-range missiles, possession of explosives and automatic weapons, concealment of a ready-to-use missile, and the illegal recruitment and training of personnel.
“These individuals are associated with politically affiliated and unlicensed groups,” al-Momani added, a reference to the Muslim Brotherhood, which was dissolved by Jordan’s judiciary in 2020.
Responding to the allegations, the Muslim Brotherhood issued a statement denouncing the arrests as unjust, affirming its commitment to the kingdom’s “stability and security”.
While the group maintains it is a charitable and political organisation, analysts have long noted the existence of ties between some Brotherhood factions and militant activities.
Hamas says it lost contact with guard of Israeli-US hostage
Amid rising tensions, Hamas on Tuesday claimed to have lost communication with militants guarding Edan Alexander, a 21-year-old Israeli-American soldier held captive in Gaza. A spokesperson for Hamas’ military wing, Abu Obeida, said the group was still attempting to re-establish contact.
“A direct bombardment targeted their location. We are still trying to reach them,” Abu Obeida stated.
Alexander, believed to be the last living American hostage in Gaza, was featured in a video released days earlier by Hamas, presumably under duress. No details were provided about the location of the strike, and the Associated Press reported that it was unable to verify the group’s claim independently. The Israeli military has also not commented on the matter.
Follow us
