Jabalia, Gaza – An Israeli airstrike on a United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) health clinic in northern Gaza killed at least 22 Palestinian civilians on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, according to local authorities. The attack, which targeted a facility sheltering hundreds of displaced people in Jabalia town, has drawn widespread condemnation as a potential war crime.
Gaza’s government media office reported that the victims included women, children, and elderly individuals, with a medical source confirming that at least nine children were among the dead. Dozens more were injured in the strike, which witnesses say ignited a massive fire, burning several bodies beyond recognition. The clinic, a critical lifeline for displaced civilians, had been a refuge amid Israel’s ongoing military operations in the enclave.
The Israeli military acknowledged the strike, claiming—without evidence—that Hamas operatives were using the clinic as a base to attack Israeli targets. A statement from the army alleged that the Jabalia Battalion of Hamas was operating within the facility. Hamas swiftly rejected these claims, calling them a “blatant fabrication” designed to justify the attack. The group emphasized that only civilians, including women and children, were present at the site.
“Netanyahu’s fascist regime flouts humanitarian and international laws with this crime, showing utter contempt for global norms and decency.” Hamas said in a statement. The Palestinian Foreign Ministry echoed this sentiment, denouncing the strike and urging global pressure on Israel to “halt its genocide, displacement, and annexation” and adhere to international law.
The attack is not the first on this UNRWA clinic. It was previously hit during Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, which began in October 2023 and has claimed over 50,400 Palestinian lives—mostly women and children—according to local health officials. The latest escalation follows a surprise Israeli aerial offensive launched on March 18, 2025, which has killed more than 1,000 people and injured over 2,500, shattering a fragile ceasefire brokered in January.
Wednesday’s airstrikes extended beyond Jabalia, with medics reporting at least 21 additional deaths across Gaza. The violence comes days after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to intensify attacks, aligning with U.S. President Donald Trump’s controversial plan to displace Palestinians from the region.
International outrage has mounted, with the International Criminal Court issuing arrest warrants in November 2024 for Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes. Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice, further spotlighting its actions in Gaza. As the death toll rises, calls for accountability grow louder.
