Israeli Airstrike Kills Senior Gaza Health Officer

JAKARTA - Israel's airstrikes at a medical clinic in Gaza City killed the director of the Gaza Ambulance and Emergency Department. Meanwhile, the Israeli military said the attack had killed a senior Hamas armed commander.

The Ministry of Health said the killing of Hani al-Jaafarawi left the number of medical staff killed by Israeli gunfire since October 7, 2023 to 500. At least 300 others have so far been detained.

In a statement, the Israeli military said the attack targeted Mohammad Salah, who is said to be responsible for developing Hamas weapons.

"Salah is part of a strategic weapons development project for the Hamas terrorist organization, and he is leading a number of Hamas terrorist forces seeking to develop weapons," he said.

More than eight months after fighting broke out, US-backed international mediation has so far failed to reach a ceasefire agreement.

Hamas said any agreement should end the war, while Israel said it would only agree to a temporary suspension of fighting until Hamas found it.

The situation in Tel Al-Sultan, in western Rafah, is still very dangerous. Israeli drones and snipers are hunting for people who are trying to inspect their homes, and tanks continue to take over the Al-Mawasi surveillance area further to the west, "said Bassam, a resident of Rafah.

"We know about people who were killed on the streets and we know and we see dozens of houses have been destroyed by Israeli occupation," he told Reuters via chat apps.