Ismail Barhoum, the newly appointed prime minister of the besieged Gaza Strip, has been killed in an Israeli airstrike, according to reports from the Times of India on Monday (24 March).
Barhoum had assumed office following the assassination of his predecessor, Isham Da-Lis, on 18 March.
The Israeli air raid targeted Khan Younis Hospital in southern Gaza, where Barhoum was reportedly receiving treatment at the time of the strike.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that the attack was executed based on extensive intelligence and was carried out using precision weaponry to minimise civilian casualties.
Footage of the strike was captured by Al Jazeera and BBC Arabic, showing their journalist preparing for a live broadcast outside the hospital moments before a missile-like projectile struck the facility.
The explosion ignited a fire, injuring at least eight others, though emergency services later managed to bring the blaze under control. However, the hospital sustained further damage from the attack.
Despite the devastation, initial reports indicate that structural damage to the hospital was limited, with a stairwell near the impact site catching fire but the main hospital building remaining largely intact.
Barhoum’s death marks yet another escalation in the ongoing conflict, further destabilising the leadership of the already war-ravaged enclave.
His appointment had followed the targeted killing of Da-Lis, underscoring the intensifying strikes on Palestinian leadership figures in Gaza.
The Israeli military has defended its operations in Gaza, asserting that its strikes are guided by intelligence aimed at countering threats while minimising harm to non-combatants.
However, critics argue that repeated attacks on medical facilities raise serious concerns over compliance with international humanitarian law.
As the situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate, the international community remains divided over the conflict, with increasing calls for restraint and adherence to the principles of war, particularly regarding civilian infrastructure and medical sites.
