Israeli undercover force detains senior Gaza health official, ministry says
For the latest updates on the Israel-Palestine conflict, visit our dedicated page.
Hams, in charge of field hospitals in the enclave, was on his way to visit the ICRC field hospital in northern Rafah when an Israeli force 'abducted' him after opening fire, killing one person and wounding another civilian nearby, according to the ministry.
Medics said the person killed was a local journalist who was filming an interview with Hams when the incident happened.
An ICRC spokesperson said the ICRC hospital had admitted and treated patients injured in the incident but would not comment further on their status in order to protect their privacy. It said it was 'very concerned about safety and security' around the field hospital.
The Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Israel has raided and attacked hospitals across the Gaza Strip during the 21-month war in Gaza, accusing Hamas of using them for military purposes, an accusation the group denies. But sending undercover forces to carry out arrests has been rare.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Saudi Gazette
16 hours ago
- Saudi Gazette
Israel intercepts Gaza aid ship, detains 21 activists and seizes humanitarian cargo
TEL AVIV — The Israeli military has intercepted a Gaza-bound aid ship attempting to break the blockade on the Palestinian territory, detaining 21 international activists and journalists and seizing all humanitarian cargo, including baby formula, food, and medicine, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition said on Sunday. According to the coalition, the ship Handala was 'violently intercepted' by Israeli naval forces in international waters approximately 40 nautical miles off Gaza late Saturday night. The group said Israeli forces cut the ship's communications and disabled onboard cameras shortly before midnight. 'All cargo was non-military, civilian, and intended for direct distribution to a population facing deliberate starvation and medical collapse under Israel's illegal blockade,' the coalition said in a statement. Israel's military has not issued an official statement, but the Foreign Ministry confirmed on social media platform X that the Navy had stopped the vessel and was bringing it ashore. This marks the second time in recent months that Israel has intercepted a vessel operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition. In June, the ship Madleen, which carried 12 activists including Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, was also seized. In May, another coalition vessel, Conscience, sustained a disabling drone attack off the coast of Malta. The latest interception comes amid growing global condemnation of Israel's restrictions on aid to Gaza, where the humanitarian crisis continues to deteriorate. International bodies have warned of rising hunger and the risk of famine, as aid access remains severely restricted. Regional human rights group Adalah said Israel's raid on the Handala violated international law, calling for the immediate release of the detained passengers. The organization noted that the ship never entered Israeli territorial waters and was headed toward Gaza's coast, which it described as the territorial waters of the State of Palestine under international law. 'The vessel's interception in international waters is a clear breach of maritime and humanitarian law,' Adalah said in a statement. The group added that the ship had arrived at Israel's Ashdod port, but lawyers were being denied access to the detainees, who include lawmakers and human rights activists from 10 different countries. Among those detained are seven U.S. citizens, including a human rights lawyer, a Jewish U.S. military veteran, and a Jewish-American activist, according to the coalition. Two Italian citizens were also on board. Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said he had discussed their case with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar, who reportedly said they would be deported within three days unless they agreed to leave immediately. — Agencies


Arab News
17 hours ago
- Arab News
Police hurt and dozens arrested at Berlin pro-Palestinian demonstration
FRANKFURT: Berlin police on Sunday said they arrested 57 people during a pro-Palestinian demonstration on the fringes of the city's yearly Pride march a day earlier, adding that 17 police officers sustained to police, about 10,000 demonstrators participated in the rally on Saturday in support of Palestinians, but authorities moved in to disperse the crowd as organizers struggled to restore arrests were related to public order disturbances, including resisting police and throwing bottles or physical altercation, but also the use of anti-Semitic slogans as well as 'symbols of anti-constitutional and terrorist organizations,' police said on social 'Internationalist Queer Pride for Liberation' movement, which on its website says there is 'no queer liberation without anti-imperialist, anti-colonial, and anti-Zionist struggle,' called the pro-Palestinian demonstration took place as Berlin's annual Pride parade was being held in another city district, where 64 arrests were also made, for insults, assault and also the alleged use of symbols deemed linked to 'terrorist organizations.'Another demonstration, this one by far-right militants opposed to the Pride march, also took place, with police telling AFP that 20 people there were protests have proliferated in Germany and elsewhere in demonstrations reflect heightened concerns as the Israel-Hamas conflict grinds on, with Israel pursuing a devastating military operation in Gaza following Hamas's October 7, 2023 Hamas attack in Israel resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, most of them civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli campaign has killed 59,733 Palestinians, mostly civilians, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run seeking to atone for the Holocaust, has long been one of Israel's most steadfast supporters. But as the civilian toll and plight in Gaza has risen, it has recently sharpened its criticism of its recently said it regards the recognition of a Palestinian state as 'one of the final steps on the path to achieving a two-state solution.'


Al Arabiya
18 hours ago
- Al Arabiya
Two Israeli soldiers killed in south Gaza, military says
Two Israeli soldiers were killed in combat in southern Gaza on Sunday, the military said, a day after confirming another soldier had died of wounds sustained last week. 'We have lost three young heroes -- some of our finest -- who gave their lives for the security of our state and the return of all our hostages,' Defense Minister Israel Katz said on X. The two soldiers, aged 20 and 22, served in the Golani Infantry Brigade's 51st Battalion. Israeli military sources said they were killed when their armored vehicle exploded in the city of Khan Younis. Military correspondents from several Israeli media outlets said the blast was caused by an improvised explosive device detonated by a militant who emerged from a tunnel. An investigation was underway. The Israeli military says 462 soldiers have been killed since the start of its ground offensive in Gaza on October 27, 2023. Israel launched its Gaza military campaign after Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack, which resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, most of them civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures. The Israeli campaign has killed 59,733 Palestinians, mostly civilians, according to the health ministry in the territory.