84 killed in Gaza as Israeli strikes hit hospitals, refugee camps

At least 84 people were killed in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza on Wednesday, including children and a journalist, according to medical sources and local residents. 

In one of the deadliest incidents, Israeli missiles struck the European Gaza Hospital in Khan Younis, southern Gaza. According to officials and humanitarian agencies, nine missiles hit the hospital courtyard and surrounding areas. Witnesses reported that a second round of missiles targeted the site as civilians and medical teams attempted to assist the wounded.

A journalist was among those killed in the attack, sources told Al Jazeera.

Read: Gaza child burned to death in his sleep during Israeli bombardment

The Israeli military later stated that it had targeted a Hamas command center located beneath the hospital, but provided no evidence to support the claim. The incident has drawn sharp criticism from international observers and human rights groups, who have reiterated concerns over attacks on medical facilities and civilians.

Elsewhere, in the al-Nahda refugee camp in northern Gaza, residents reported that a tent sheltering displaced families was bombed. Mohammad al-Dreiny, a local resident, said several people were killed, including children who had been playing football nearby.

"This attack resulted in a number of martyrs and injuries," he said.

The bombardment comes amid intensified fighting and a worsening humanitarian situation in the enclave, where health systems are overwhelmed and basic resources remain scarce.

Al Jazeera reported that efforts to reach and evacuate the wounded were hindered by continued shelling, with rescue workers facing direct targeting as they attempted to assist survivors.