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A coordinated Israeli airstrike on the European Hospital in Gaza has resulted in the deaths of 28 individuals on Tuesday, an assault reportedly aimed at eliminating Hamas leader Mohammed Sinwar according to local media sources. This attack occurs as international pressure mounts on Israeli officials to finalize a ceasefire and hostage release deal, with President Donald Trump actively engaging in Middle Eastern diplomacy.

In a significant development, Hamas released an American hostage on Monday after direct negotiations with the U.S., bypassing Israel. President Trump hailed this as a "good faith step" towards ending the ongoing conflict. On Tuesday, Trump's Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff met with the families of Israeli hostages. Witkoff, who had criticized Israel the day before for prolonging the war, expressed optimism about the forthcoming peace talks in Doha scheduled for Wednesday.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF), in their announcement regarding Tuesday's Gaza hospital bombing, justified the strike by alleging it targeted a Hamas command and control center beneath the hospital. The Israeli media, quoting military sources, indicated the primary aim was to neutralize Mohammed Sinwar. Sinwar took over as Hamas leader following the assassination of his brother, Yahya Sinwar, in October. Contrary to the objective, Mohammed Sinwar's name was not listed among the casualties reported by local authorities in the Hamas-administered Gaza Strip.

The attack resulted in not only deaths but also injuries, as the BBC reported that a freelance journalist affiliated with them was hurt. Tragically, another journalist, Hassan Aslih, was killed in a separate Israeli airstrike on a different Gaza hospital the same day. Aslih, who had amassed a significant social media following, was accused by Israel of collaborating with Hamas. He was recuperating from a previous assassination attempt in Nasser Hospital when the fatal strike occurred, according to Reuters.

The Committee to Protect Journalists has reported a grim tally of 138 journalist fatalities since the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel. The majority of these victims are Palestinian, exacerbated by Israel's ban on foreign media presence in the Gaza Strip. The European Hospital, which was funded by the European Union, remains one of the few functional hospitals in Gaza, having endured more than 18 months of relentless bombing by Israel.