Gaza’s civil defence agency reported that Israeli forces killed at least 12 people on Monday during intensified military operations across the war-torn Palestinian territory. Among the dead were six civilians who were sheltering inside the Al-Rimal clinic in Gaza City, which was hit by an air strike. The clinic had been housing hundreds of displaced people affected by the 21-month-long conflict.
Civil defence spokesperson Mahmud Bassal stated that 15 others were injured in the blast at Al-Rimal, located in a crowded neighbourhood west of Gaza City. Witnesses described scenes of chaos and confusion as missiles suddenly struck the building. “We were surprised by missiles and explosions,” said local resident Salman Qudum. “There was dust everywhere, and we didn’t know where to go.”
In another deadly incident, two people were reportedly killed and 20 wounded by Israeli gunfire near an aid distribution site northwest of Rafah. The victims were waiting for food from the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a U.S.- and Israel-backed group leading relief efforts since May. The Israeli army said it fired “warning shots” hundreds of meters away from the distribution point before its opening hours and would review the incident.
The Red Cross expressed concern over a recent rise in casualties linked to aid collection points. In a statement, the ICRC said its 60-bed field hospital in Rafah was operating beyond capacity, overwhelmed by a steady flow of patients—mostly injured by gunfire. “Our staff are racing to treat an unrelenting tide of injuries,” the statement read.
Meanwhile, more air strikes and gunfire were reported in Khan Yunis and Gaza City. Bassal confirmed that an air strike in Khan Yunis killed two people and another died from Israeli gunfire. A separate attack on a house in Gaza City left one dead and several others injured. The Israeli military later claimed it had targeted “dozens of terrorists” and various militant facilities within the last 24 hours.
The ongoing war began after Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, which killed 1,219 people and led to the abduction of 251 hostages. In response, Israel launched a massive campaign in Gaza that, according to the Hamas-run health ministry, has now killed over 57,523 people—mostly civilians. The UN has deemed those casualty figures credible.