Israeli Airstrike Devastates Last Fully Functioning Hospital in Gaza City, Forcing Mass Evacuation
Israeli missiles struck Al-Ahli Arab Baptist Hospital in Gaza City early Sunday morning, destroying critical medical facilities and forcing hundreds of patients to evacuate in the middle of the night. The strike, which Israel claims targeted a Hamas command center, marks a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict and further deteriorates Gaza's already crippled healthcare system.
Key Developments: Hospital Strike Causes Significant Damage and Disruption
Two Israeli missiles hit Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza City during a pre-dawn strike, following a 20-minute evacuation warning from Israeli authorities Reuters1. The attack severely damaged multiple structures, including the emergency department, pharmacy, outpatient ward, and the two-story Genetic Laboratory NPR2.
Dr. Fadel Naim, the hospital director, confirmed they received a warning before the strike but noted that the attack affected more than 100 patients and dozens of medical staff NPR2. While no casualties were reported directly from the hospital strike itself, one patient – a young girl – died during the chaotic evacuation when medical staff were unable to provide urgent care NPR2.
The attack comes amid an intensification of Israeli military operations across Gaza. In separate strikes on Sunday, at least 30 Palestinians were killed, including the head of a police station in Khan Younis and six brothers whose car was hit in Deir Al-Balah in central Gaza Reuters1.
Al-Ahli Hospital was the last fully functioning hospital in Gaza City, making this strike particularly devastating for medical care in the northern Gaza Strip CNN3. Patients have since been transferred to three other hospitals in Gaza City – Shifa, Al-Quds, and the Kuwait Field Hospital – further straining these already overwhelmed facilities NPR2.
Global Reactions: Condemnation and Calls for Protection
The Diocese of Jerusalem, which runs Al-Ahli Hospital, issued a strong condemnation of the attack, emphasizing that it occurred on Palm Sunday, "the start of the Holy Week, the most sacred week of the Christian year" NPR2. In a statement, the Baptist Church in Jerusalem called upon "all governments and people of goodwill to intervene to stop all kinds of attacks on medical and humanitarian institutions" Reuters1.
The Palestinian foreign ministry and Hamas condemned the attack, accusing Israel of systematically destroying Gaza's healthcare system Reuters1. Palestinian health officials described the evacuation as "frightening," with patients being carried into the streets on hospital beds in the middle of the night NPR2.
International humanitarian organizations have expressed concern about the pattern of attacks on medical facilities. Le Monde reported that "Hospitals, protected under international humanitarian law, have repeatedly been hit by Israeli strikes in the Gaza Strip since the start of the conflict" Le Monde4.
The Israeli military defended the action, stating in a press release that they had "taken steps to reduce harm to civilians before it struck the compound, which was being used by Hamas militants to plan attacks" Reuters1. They claimed the strike targeted a command and control center used by Hamas but did not provide evidence for this assertion NPR2.
Expert Insights: Humanitarian Law and Patterns of Hospital Strikes
Human rights experts have increasingly raised concerns about Israel's targeting of medical facilities in Gaza. The United Nations Human Rights Office published a report finding that "Israel's pattern of deadly attacks on and near hospitals in Gaza, and associated combat, have pushed the healthcare system to the brink of total collapse" OHCHR5.
Legal experts point out that hospitals enjoy special protection under international humanitarian law. Human Rights Watch has previously stated that "The Israeli military's repeated, apparently unlawful attacks on medical facilities, personnel and transport are further destroying the Gaza healthcare system" Human Rights Watch6.
Francesca Albanese, a UN expert, has characterized Israel's actions as an "unrelenting war on the health system in Gaza" ReliefWeb7. A study published by Harvard University's François-Xavier Bagnoud Center for Health and Human Rights found that "more than half of healthcare, education, and water facilities were damaged by Israeli attacks" in Gaza, suggesting a pattern rather than isolated incidents Harvard FXB8.
Dr. Munir al-Boursh, the health ministry's director general, described the evacuation: "It was very scary for the patients... we did not know what happened," highlighting the psychological trauma inflicted on already vulnerable patients NPR2.
Future Implications: Deteriorating Healthcare and Humanitarian Crisis
The strike on Al-Ahli Hospital represents another significant blow to Gaza's healthcare system, which was already struggling under the weight of more than 18 months of conflict. With over 50,000 Palestinians killed since October 2023 and countless more injured, functioning medical facilities are crucial for addressing the ongoing humanitarian crisis NPR2.
Health ministry spokesperson Khalil Al-Deqran warned that "Hundreds of patients and injured people had to be evacuated in the middle of the night, and many of them are now out in the streets without medical care, which puts their lives at risk" Reuters1. The redistribution of patients to other hospitals further strains Gaza's fragmented healthcare infrastructure.
The attack coincides with renewed diplomatic efforts to secure a ceasefire. Hamas leaders are currently in Cairo for talks aimed at reviving stalled negotiations, with Egypt, Qatar, and the United States attempting to bridge gaps between the parties Reuters1.
Healthcare experts warn that the cumulative damage to Gaza's medical infrastructure will have long-lasting effects that extend far beyond the current conflict. The UN has documented that most healthcare facilities in Gaza are "damaged beyond repair," creating a healthcare crisis that will persist long after hostilities cease UK Parliament9.
As Israeli strikes intensify across Gaza and diplomatic efforts continue in Cairo, the destruction of critical medical infrastructure raises serious questions about compliance with international humanitarian law and the prospects for civilians caught in the crossfire. Will the international community's calls for protection of medical facilities finally translate into concrete action, or will Gaza's healthcare system continue its descent toward complete collapse?
