TEL AVIV - In a deadly incident, an Israeli strike targeted an ambulance outside Gaza City's largest hospital, resulting in the death of at least 15 people and injuring another 60, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. The strike, which occurred on Friday, has drawn international attention due to the scenes of carnage and destruction captured in photos and videos geolocated by The Washington Post.

This strike is the latest in a series of attacks on health infrastructure in Gaza as Israeli forces continue their large-scale offensive against Hamas, the ruling Palestinian group. Since the start of the war on October 7, over 9,000 people in Gaza have lost their lives. Israel launched its campaign in response to a brutal Hamas assault on Israeli communities near the border, resulting in the death of at least 1,400 people.

The Israeli military has confirmed that the strike targeted the ambulance, stating that it was being used by a Hamas terrorist cell. The Israel Defense Forces further explained that several Hamas operatives were killed in the strike, and additional detailed information was provided to intelligence agencies.

However, photos and videos reviewed by The Washington Post show that the victims of the strike included women and children, with no visible presence of weapons or individuals in military clothing. The targeted ambulance was part of a convoy consisting of six ambulances, which had been announced by Gaza's Health Ministry two hours prior to the strike. The ministry stated that the ambulances were meant to transport a large number of wounded patients from al-Shifa Hospital to southern Gaza.

The convoy, which had not received Israeli approval, was returning to the hospital gate when it was hit. Witnesses report a crowded area near the hospital, as tens of thousands of displaced individuals sought shelter in and around al-Shifa Hospital at the time.

Evidence suggests that the strike on the convoy occurred three times, in different locations, including Al-Rashid Street and Ansar Roundabout before striking the entrance to the hospital. The Palestinian Red Crescent Society, which had an ambulance in the convoy, confirmed that the convoy was targeted while on Al-Rashid Street. The strike caused significant damage to the Health Ministry ambulance, a Red Crescent ambulance, and resulted in the death and injury of numerous civilians.

Concerns of compliance with the law of war have been raised, as international humanitarian law requires a warning before an attack and efforts to minimize harm to civilians, even if the ambulance was being used by Hamas. The head of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, expressed shock at the reports of the attacks on ambulances, emphasizing the need to protect patients, health workers, facilities, and ambulances at all times.

Meanwhile, strikes and shelling have also been reported near al-Quds Hospital and Indonesian Hospital in Gaza City, further worsening the humanitarian situation. The International Committee of the Red Cross has expressed concern about the catastrophic conditions witnessed in northern Gaza's hospitals.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has arrived in Tel Aviv and is expected to urge Israel to implement "humanitarian pauses" in Gaza. The Palestine Red Crescent Society has received over 300 trucks of essential supplies, such as food, medicine, and water, through Egypt's Rafah crossing. However, permission has not yet been granted to bring in fuel, which is crucial for powering vital infrastructure such as hospitals, water pumps, and transportation services in Gaza.