Israeli strikes kill two in Gaza as hospital medicine warehouses are destroyed

Two Palestinians were killed in an Israeli air strike in Gaza on Saturday, while separate strikes destroyed warehouses storing medical supplies for Al Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, raising new concerns about access to healthcare in the territory as uncertainty continues over a possible agreement between Israel and Hamas.

According to Palestinian health officials, the two people were killed in the Sheikh Radwan area of Gaza City. The Israeli military said the strike targeted Hamas fighters but did not provide further details about the operation or identify those killed.

In another strike earlier the same day, two warehouses near Al Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al Balah were destroyed. Gaza’s Health Ministry said the buildings contained essential medicines and medical equipment used by the hospital to treat patients, including those receiving dialysis for kidney failure. Other supplies such as wound care materials and gauze were also stored there.

The attack also damaged two additional medical storage facilities and the hospital’s outpatient clinic. Hospital officials said no injuries were reported among staff or patients during the incident, but they warned that the destruction of medical supplies would make it more difficult to provide treatment to those in need.

Dr Khalil al Daqran, who works at the hospital, condemned the strike and said the destroyed warehouse contained critical medical resources needed for daily operations. He said the loss of the supplies would place further strain on healthcare services already struggling under difficult conditions.

Witnesses said Israeli forces issued an evacuation warning before carrying out the strike. The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the attack targeting the warehouse complex.

Under international humanitarian law, hospitals and civilian medical facilities are protected during armed conflict unless they are being used for military purposes. Israel has repeatedly accused Hamas and other armed groups of operating from within civilian infrastructure, including hospitals and surrounding buildings, an allegation Hamas has denied.

Fatima Sharab, a displaced Palestinian staying in a nearby camp, said many families had chosen to shelter close to the hospital because they expected easier access to medical care if needed. She said the strike caused widespread destruction in the area and left many displaced people without shelter.

The latest attacks come despite a ceasefire agreement reached last year through US mediation. Fighting and Israeli military operations have continued across Gaza in the months since. Palestinian health authorities say more than 1,200 people have been killed during that period, with many of the victims reported to be civilians, including women and children. Hamas has not regularly disclosed the number of its fighters killed.

Attention is now focused on a possible breakthrough in negotiations to end the conflict. US President Donald Trump recently announced that Hamas had agreed to disarm as part of a broader peace initiative aimed at ending the war. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not publicly confirmed whether Israel accepts the reported agreement.

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir has openly opposed the proposal, saying Israel should continue military operations and maintain its campaign against Hamas leaders. Meanwhile, Trump’s Board of Peace has released a roadmap outlining the final steps of its proposed plan, stating that Israel would halt military operations as part of the agreement if all parties move forward with its implementation.