Palestinian health professionals and rights activists have condemned the Israeli military for the death of a senior health authority in Gaza, accusing Israel of persistently targeting the healthcare system within the enclave.

On late Sunday, Israel bombed a clinic in Gaza City, resulting in the death of Hani al-Jaafarawi, Gaza’s director of ambulances and emergency services, along with four other individuals.

The clinic, which provided general health, pediatric, and dental services, was rendered inoperative due to the attack.

"The Israeli warplanes bombed the clinic, completely destroying its rooms," reported Ismail Algoul, an Al Jazeera Arabic correspondent in Gaza City. "The blood of the victims is still visible on the floor, and now, thousands of patients are at risk since the clinic has lost all its facilities due to this Israeli airstrike."

Eyad Zaqout, head of the emergency department at Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir el-Balah, stated on Monday that al-Jaafarawi’s death removed a crucial figure from Gaza’s deteriorating health system.

"It is evident that Israeli forces are aiming to completely dismantle the health and medical infrastructure in Gaza once again," Zaqout remarked. "Hani al-Jaafarawi was a cornerstone of Gaza’s health system, tirelessly working day and night for those living under extremely difficult conditions in Gaza."

Gaza’s Ministry of Health paid tribute to al-Jaafarawi, highlighting his commitment to his medical duties and his services to the sick and injured Palestinians despite significant challenges posed by the Israeli offensive.

"The Health Ministry renews its calls to the international community and global organizations to halt the atrocious Israeli aggression against the Gaza Strip and safeguard the health system and its workers," the ministry stated.

The ministry further noted that since the onset of the conflict in October, 500 health workers have been killed by Israel, and 310 others have been detained.

On Monday, the Israeli military described the attack as targeting a "Hamas weapons production headquarters," claiming the life of a senior Hamas member tasked with enhancing the group’s combat capabilities.

The United States commented on the conflicting reports surrounding the attack, indicating that it’s "very hard to get at the bottom-line truth." State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said, "Clearly, militants should not use civilians as shields—this has been the stance from the beginning. Israel must also undertake all measures to minimize civilian casualties."

Missing Children

Simultaneously, Israel continued its bombardment across Gaza. The Health Ministry reported on Monday that the death toll has reached at least 37,626 since the war began.

Save the Children revealed that approximately 21,000 children are currently unaccounted for in Gaza.

"Under the present circumstances in Gaza, gathering and verifying information is nearly impossible. However, it’s estimated that at least 17,000 children are unaccompanied and separated, about 4,000 children might be trapped under rubble, and an unknown number are in mass graves," the charity highlighted on Monday.

"Others have been forcibly 'disappeared,' with an unknown number detained and taken out of Gaza, leaving their families unaware of their whereabouts amid reports of mistreatment and torture."

On Monday, health officials said at least seven Palestinians were killed in Khan Younis while awaiting much-needed aid.

The Palestinian Civil Defence retrieved the bodies of five individuals, including three children and a woman, after an Israeli assault in central Gaza.

Simultaneously, Israel has been advancing in Rafah, southern Gaza, with Israeli army chief Herzi Halevi asserting that the military is close to "finishing off" Hamas.

"We have made significant progress in Rafah, evidenced by the number of terrorists killed, the volume of infrastructure and tunnels destroyed, and our advancements in complex underground warfare," Halevi said, as reported by the Jerusalem Post.

Truce Proposal

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared on Sunday that the "intense phase of the fight against Hamas is nearing its end."

Netanyahu told Israel’s Channel 14 that Israel would consider a "partial" truce with Hamas to secure the release of Israelis held by the group but would not agree to end the war completely.

His statements seem to contradict the US's claim that Israel has accepted a proposal by the US for a "lasting" ceasefire.

US officials have emphasized that Hamas is obstructing the multi-phased deal proposed by President Joe Biden in May.

Hamas responded by saying that Netanyahu’s comments demonstrate that Israel is not genuinely interested in a ceasefire but rather seeks to buy time to continue its "extermination war" against Gaza.

"It is now clear to the world that Netanyahu is the one obstructing the deal proposed in President Biden's speech and the latest UN Security Council resolution, not Hamas," said Izzat al-Rishq, a senior official from the group, on Monday.

Later on Monday, the Israeli prime minister appeared to revise his statement, asserting that his government is "committed to the Israeli proposal, welcomed by President Biden."

The US State Department implied that Netanyahu had misspoken. "Those of us who speak publicly sometimes make errors and misspeak. When that happens, it’s our duty to clarify. We appreciate his clarification," Miller stated.