Israeli strikes hit Gaza hospital courtyard, school

The airstrike on Monday killed at least four people and injured dozens of others at a tent camp outside Al Aqsa Hospital in central Gaza, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry. Another overnight strike hit a nearby school compound, killing at least 20 people, said Philipp Lazzarini, the head of the United Nations agency that serves the Palestinian territories. The Israeli military has said it targets Hamas militants that it claims are hiding among civilians. The UN had planned to use the school to administer a second round of polio vaccinations as part of its campaign to vaccinate hundreds of thousands of children in Gaza, said Lazzarini. Officials canceled the vaccinations that were due to take place at the school due to severe damage.

What is happening in the fight against Hezbollah? The terrorist group on Saturday launched a strike against an Israeli army base in the northern part of the country. The attack killed four soldiers and wounded 60 others, according to the Israel Defense Forces. IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi visited the base Sunday evening to meet with troops. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant toured the facility Monday morning, saying that the military will learn quickly from the attack, which he called a drone strike.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin on Sunday spoke with Gallant to express his condolences for the soldiers who died. Austin also called on Israel to ensure the safety of UN peacekeeping forces in Lebanon and the Lebanese Armed Forces while Israel battles Hezbollah terrorists. The UN Interim Force in Lebanon has said that Israeli forces have intentionally hit its peacekeeping personnel and facilities. Israel claims its forces are not trying to target the UNIFIL but are conducting operations near the organization. The European Union on Sunday called for a cease-fire in Lebanon and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that attacks against peacekeeping forces could constitute a war crime.

What else is happening in the war? The United States Department of Defense on Sunday said it would deploy an antimissile defense system to Israel. Up to 100 supporting American military personnel will deploy with Israel to help bolster the country’s defense system. The U.S. previously deployed the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense system to Israel in 2019 for training.

Dig deeper: Read R. Albert Mohler Jr.’s column in WORLD Opinions listing Iran and Russia among four countries composing what he calls a new axis of evil.