Israel strikes Gaza hospital as pressure mounts on Benjamin Netanyahu over hostages

An Israeli airstrike hit a Gaza field hospital on Tuesday, killing a medic and wounding nine other people, a spokesman for the hospital said. The strike hit the Kuwaiti Field Hospital in the Muwasi area, where hundreds of thousands have sought shelter in sprawling tent camps.

The attack happened as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahnu comes under increased pressure to discuss peace proposals with Hamas. The group has agreed in principle to release all remaining living hostages in exchange for an end to the war. But they have steadfastly refused to disarm their fighters and hand over their weapons.

The wounded were all patients and medics, and two of the patients were in critical condition after the strike, said Saber Mohammed, a hospital spokesman. There was no immediate comment from the military.

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Separately Prime Minister reiterated his opposition to Palestinian statehood in a phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron. He is also under pressure from military and Mossad veterans who have signed a letter demanding an end to the war and the return of hostages. Hamas has already said it would agreen to this if there was a guarantee of an end to the war - whilst refusing to disarm.

The French leader had said France aimed to recognize a Palestinian state later this year. The military has struck and raided on several occasions during the 18-month war, accusing Hamas militants of hiding out in them or using them for military purposes.

Hospital staff have denied the allegations and accused of recklessly endangering civilians and gutting Gaza's health system.

On Sunday, Israel struck the last major hospital providing critical care in northern Gaza after ordering an evacuation. A patient died during the evacuation, and the strike severely damaged the emergency room, pharmacy and surrounding buildings, according to Al-Ahli Hospital.

The Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem, which runs the hospital, condemned the strike. Israel said it targeted a Hamas command and control center within the facility, without providing evidence. Hamas denied the allegations.

The war on Gaza began when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting 251. Fifty-nine hostages are still inside Gaza, 24 of whom are believed to be alive, after most of the rest were released in ceasefire agreements or other deals.

Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed over 51,000 people, according to an updated toll released by Gaza's Health Ministry on Tuesday. That includes more than 1,600 people killed since Israel ended a ceasefire and resumed its offensive last month to pressure Hamas to accept changes to the agreement.

The ministry is led by medical professionals but reports to the Hamas-run government. Its toll is seen as generally reliable by U.N. agencies and independent experts, though Israel has challenged its numbers.

Israel says it has killed some 20,000 militants, without providing evidence. The ministry does not say how many were civilians or combatants but says women and children make up more than half of the dead.

The offensive has destroyed much of the territory and displaced around 90% of its population of roughly 2 million Palestinians. In the call with Macron, Netanyahu said the creation of a Palestinian state would be "a huge reward for terrorism" and result in a militant-run entity just miles from Israeli cities.

In his own statement Macron called for another ceasefire, the release of hostages and renewing the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza, which Israel has blocked for over a month. He did not mention recognition of a Palestinian state. Macron said last week that France should aim to recognize a Palestinian state by June when it joins Saudi Arabia in hosting an international conference on implementing a two-state solution.

The creation of a Palestinian state alongside Israel is widely seen internationally as the only realistic way to resolve the decades-old conflict. Israel captured Gaza, the West Bank and east Jerusalem in the 1967 Mideast war, and the Palestinians want all three for a future state.

The last seriouspeace talks broke down after Netanyahu returned to power in 2009. A number of European states have recently recognized a Palestinian state in what is largely a symbolic move aimed at reviving the peace process.