Israeli Strike on Gaza's Al-Ahli Hospital Destroys Emergency Department Amid Disputed Military Claims
An Israeli missile strike destroyed vital medical facilities at Gaza's Al-Ahli Arab Baptist Hospital on Sunday, rendering the last major functioning hospital in northern Gaza non-operational and forcing the evacuation of hundreds of patients. The Israeli military claims the facility housed a Hamas command center, while Palestinian authorities condemn the attack as part of a systematic assault on Gaza's healthcare system.
Key Developments: Hospital Strike Leaves Critical Healthcare Gap
Two Israeli missiles hit the Al-Ahli Arab Baptist Hospital in Gaza City during the early hours of Sunday, April 13, 2025, destroying the emergency department and severely damaging other critical facilities Reuters1. The attack came after hospital officials evacuated patients following a warning call from someone identifying themselves as Israeli security.
"The two strikes destroyed the hospital's two-story Genetic Laboratory, damaged the Pharmacy and Emergency Department buildings, and caused collateral damage to surrounding structures, including the St. Philip's church building," according to the Baptist Church in Jerusalem Times of Israel2.
The World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed that a Palestinian child died due to the disruption of medical care following the hospital bombing Al Jazeera3. Hospital officials reported that the patient died during the evacuation because medical staff were unable to provide urgent care AP News4.
The strike has effectively eliminated the last major hospital providing critical healthcare in northern Gaza, exacerbating an already dire humanitarian crisis. "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," said Palestinian foreign ministry spokesperson Khalil Al-Deqran Reuters1.
Israel's Military Claims
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Shin Bet security agency stated that the strike targeted a Hamas command center embedded within the hospital. "The Hamas terrorist organization systematically violates international law, while brutally exploiting civilian buildings and the civilian population as human shields for terrorist operations," the army said Times of Israel2.
Israeli military officials emphasized that they took steps to mitigate civilian harm, including using "precision munitions" and aerial surveillance. They also noted that a warning was provided approximately 20 minutes before the strike, allowing for evacuation Times of Israel2.
The IDF claims that Hamas used the facility "to plan and carry out attacks against troops and Israeli civilians," justifying it as a legitimate military target under their interpretation of international law Times of Israel2.
Global Reactions: Condemnation and Concern
The strike on Al-Ahli Hospital has drawn significant international criticism as global concern mounts over attacks on medical facilities in Gaza.
The World Health Organization condemned the attack and confirmed the death of a Palestinian child due to the disruption of medical care. According to the WHO, this incident is part of a troubling pattern, as they have verified over 650 attacks on healthcare facilities in Gaza since October 2023 MedGlobal5.
Qatar described the strike as a "horrific massacre," while the United Kingdom called for an end to Israel's "deplorable attacks" on healthcare facilities Al Jazeera6.
Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP), an international humanitarian organization, demanded protection for Gaza's hospitals and accountability for violations of international law. "Overnight, the Israeli forces carried out airstrikes on Al Ahli Arab Baptist Hospital, one of the last major functioning hospitals in Gaza," the organization stated, calling for immediate international action MAP7.
The Palestinian foreign ministry and Hamas condemned the attack, accusing Israel of deliberately destroying Gaza's healthcare system as part of its broader military campaign Reuters1.
Expert Insights: Legal and Humanitarian Perspectives
International legal experts are divided on the legality of targeting medical facilities under specific circumstances, though many emphasize the high legal threshold for such actions.
"Medical personnel and hospitals are specifically protected under international humanitarian law, provided they do not commit, or are not used to commit, acts harmful to the enemy outside their humanitarian function," according to UN experts UN Palestine8.
Legal scholar Adil Ahmad Haque, professor of law and Judge Jon O. Newman Scholar at Rutgers Law School, explains: "The law is clear: a hospital becomes a legitimate target when used for hostile or harmful acts unrelated to its humanitarian function, but only after due warning has been given and remains unheeded" Lieber Institute9.
However, the actual implementation of these legal principles remains contentious. Professor Eliav Lieblich of Tel Aviv University notes: "The bar for hospitals to lose protected status under international law is set very high. Those conditions include clear evidence of military use that goes beyond the mere presence of fighters, and proportionality assessments must still be strictly applied" Mondoweiss10.
From a humanitarian perspective, Dr. Natalia Kanem, Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund, stated: "Attacks on healthcare facilities represent a grave violation of the fundamental principles of humanitarian law and have devastating consequences for vulnerable populations, particularly women and children in need of medical care."
Future Implications: Worsening Humanitarian Crisis and Peace Prospects
The strike on Al-Ahli Hospital has significant implications for both the humanitarian situation in Gaza and the prospects for peace negotiations.
With the hospital now out of operation, northern Gaza faces a critical healthcare void. According to Gaza's health ministry, Al-Ahli was one of the few remaining functional hospitals in the region, and its loss will have severe consequences for thousands of Palestinians in need of medical care Al Jazeera11.
The attack comes amid a broader intensification of Israeli military operations in Gaza. On the same day as the hospital strike, separate attacks killed at least 37 people across Gaza, including six volunteer brothers who were delivering food to civilians Al Jazeera3.
The timing is particularly significant as the strike occurred on Palm Sunday, an important religious holiday for Christians in the region. The Baptist Church in Jerusalem highlighted this aspect in their condemnation of the attack Times of Israel2.
The incident may further complicate ceasefire negotiations, which have stalled in recent weeks. Reuters reported that "Hamas will not respond to Israel's counter-Gaza ceasefire proposal," indicating continued diplomatic impasse Reuters12.
International pressure on both sides to reach an agreement is increasing, with US President Donald Trump recently hosting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and stating that the war in Gaza "should stop soon" Reuters13.
The targeting of hospitals—regardless of military justification—risks further entrenching positions and eroding trust between the parties, potentially prolonging the conflict and its devastating humanitarian consequences.
As patients from Al-Ahli Hospital now find themselves without adequate medical care and Gaza's healthcare system faces near-complete collapse, the international community faces renewed pressure to find a path toward protecting civilians and essential infrastructure in conflict zones. Will the strike on Al-Ahli Hospital serve as a catalyst for more effective protection of medical facilities, or will it become another tragic milestone in a conflict where the boundaries of international humanitarian law continue to be tested?
Palestinian rescuers pull a woman from the rubble after an Israeli strike near Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza, April 13, 2025. Credit: Al Jazeera
