Senior Hamas leader killed as Gaza death toll passes 50,000, with largest hospital struck
23 March 2025, 10:57 | Updated: 23 March 2025, 22:39
Israeli strikes across the southern Gaza Strip hit its largest hospital and killed a senior Hamas political leader, with the death toll since October 7 passing 50,000.
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Israeli strikes across the southern Gaza Strip killed at least 26 Palestinians overnight into Sunday, including a senior Hamas political leader and several women and children.
The largest hospital was also struck in southern Gaza on Sunday night, with Nasser Hospital saying one person was killed, its health ministry said.
The hospital says there were many others wounded, including medical personnel
Israel's military did not immediately comment.
Earlier, residents said tanks had advanced into an area of the southern city of Rafah as the military ordered it evacuated.
The Gaza Health Ministry has reported that 50,000 people have been killed in Gaza.
It comes after over 400 people died in the airstrikes on Gaza last week.
The UN said one of its workers was killed in strikes.
They form part of a new wave of air attacks on the Palestinian territory by Israel, which shattered the fragile ceasefire that has been in place since January.
Keir Starmer said he was "deeply concerned" about the ceasefire ending.
He told MPs: "The images of parents carrying their children, young children to hospitals that have emerged over the last few days are truly shocking alongside the sheer number of people who have been killed.
"We will do all we can to ensure the resumption of the ceasefire to get the remaining hostages out and to get aid that's desperately needed in."
The strikes, which killed mostly women and children according to Gaza health officials, were ordered by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu early on Tuesday after Hamas refused Israeli demands to change the ceasefire agreement.
They were "only the beginning" he said, and announced Israel would press on with its aim to eliminate Hamas and free all hostages held by the militant group.
Unicef spokesperson who experienced Israel’s lethal strikes in Gaza joins James O'Brien
The Prime Minister's official spokesman later insisted that "all parties, including Israel, must respect international humanitarian law".
He added: "We're clear that Israel must have security, and Hamas cannot play any role in the future of Gaza, but we must see the talks urgently resume, the ceasefire agreement to implement in full and see permanent peace worked towards.
"Mr Netanyahu has said that all future ceasefire talks with Hamas will now take place "under fire".
Downing Street's call for both sides to respect international law comes a day after Foreign Secretary David Lammy climbed down from claiming that Israel had broken international law by blocking aid shipments to Gaza.
Mr Lammy said he "could have been clearer" with his remarks in the House of Commons, which had prompted questions about the UK Government's position on the matter.
