Hamas rockets rained down on Israel again Wednesday, including a direct strike on a hospital in the city of Ashkelon, as tensions remained high on the fifth day of fierce fighting since the terrorist group’s devastating surprise invasion.
The long-range strikes continued as the number of confirmed American deaths rose to 22, besieged Gaza lost its last source of electricity and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed with opposition leaders on a unity government in anticipation of a ground invasion.
As of Wednesday, at least 1,200 people had been confirmed dead and 2,700 wounded in Israel, with roughly 150 more taken hostage by Hamas. Another 1,050 people have been killed and 5,100 people injured in Israel’s retaliatory strikes on Gaza, according to Palestinian officials.
Israeli Hospital Takes Direct Rocket Hit
On Wednesday, a hospital in Ashkelon, a short distance over the border from Gaza, became the latest target.
“The main hospital in the southern Israeli city of Ashkelon has been hit by a rocket from Gaza,” wrote Avi Mayer, editor-in-chief of the Jerusalem Post, in a Wednesday morning post to X, formerly Twitter.
Damage was sustained, but there were no injuries in the strike on Barzilai Medical Center, according to Galei Tzahal, a radio network operated by the Israel Defense Forces.
The barrage was a direct hit to the hospital’s child development center, according to one X user who identified as a journalist.
American Death Toll in Israel Rises to 22
At least 22 Americans have now been confirmed dead in Israel, the U.S. State Department said Wednesday.
“At this time, we can confirm the deaths of at least 22 U.S. citizens,” a State Department spokesperson told CBS. “We extend our deepest condolences to the victims and to the families of all those affected.”
Gaza’s Last Power Plant Runs Dry
Meanwhile Wednesday, Gaza’s sole power plant ran out of fuel, leaving the region in the dark days after Israeli officials ordered a halt on the supply of external electricity.
That leaves Gaza — which is also cut off from external shipments of food, fuel and drinking water — to rely on small, individual generators for as long as supplies last.
Netanyahu, Opposition Reach Unity Deal
Also Wednesday, Israel’s Netanyahu and opposition leader Benny Gantz reportedly agreed to establish an emergency government of national unity with the nation still reeling from the surprise attack — and appearing to edge closer to a ground invasion of Gaza.
A small war cabinet including Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Gantz, will helm the assault on Gaza, the newly-formed coalition said in a statement.
Lebanon border drone scare ‘false alarm’
Sirens blared across northern Israel on Wednesday amid reports of attacks from the air via drone and manned aircraft, before the Israel Defense Forces said that there was no new invasion.
Dozens of drones, as well as manned aircraft, were believed to be encroaching from the northern border with Lebanon, sparking a scramble for shelter.
However, the IDF ultimately gave the all-clear.
Hamas Claims Long-Range Missile Launch
Hamas claimed Wednesday to have fired a long-range missile on the Israeli port city of Haifa, according to reports.
The strike, reported by Israel’s Haaretz newspaper, is notable in that it represents an attack well beyond Gaza’s borders, which has been bounded by airstrikes since Hamas’ devastating surprise invasion of Southern Israel on Saturday.
It was not immediately clear whether any casualties were sustained in the reported long-range strike.
