Gaza City, December 8 (RHC)-- An overnight Israeli airstrike killed 18 family members of Dr. Munir Al-Bursh, director-general of the Hamas-controlled Health Ministry in Gaza, the ministry said Thursday.  Several of the bodies arrived at the Kamal Adwan hospital in northern Gaza as Al-Bursh was on shift there Thursday morning, according to the health ministry.

Al-Bursh told reporters his 1-week-old granddaughter was among those killed. 

Video from the hospital shows Al-Bursh kneeling on the ground before bodies wrapped in sheets. At least five covered bodies can be seen in the video.  Al-Bursh uncovers the face of one of the deceased, an adult male, and touches his face, the video shows.

He said the man is his nephew, a university professor with a law degree, days shy of obtaining a doctorate in international law, who "everyone knows for his kindness." 

He said his father is the Undersecretary of the Hamas-run Ministry of Justice in Gaza.   "The Israeli occupation wants to kill hope in us. It wants to diminish our youth, children and women. It targets academics and learners, as well as children. He demolishes houses on the heads of their residents, not distinguishing between old and young," Al-Bursh said in the video.