On Sunday, April 13th, two Israeli missiles struck a building within a major Gaza hospital. The attack resulted in the destruction of the emergency and reception department, along with damage to other parts of the structure, according to medical personnel.
Following the strike, health officials at the Al-Ahli Arab Baptist Hospital moved patients from the affected building. One individual reported receiving a phone call from someone claiming to be affiliated with Israeli security shortly before the attack. Fortunately, the civil emergency service reported no fatalities.
Israel did not issue any statement regarding the incident. Social media images, which could not be independently verified, depicted numerous displaced families departing the hospital, some transporting sick relatives on hospital beds.
The Hamas-led government media office issued a statement condemning the attack as a "heinous and filthy crime." They accused Israel of intentionally destroying 34 hospitals, claiming this was part of a deliberate effort to dismantle the healthcare system in the Gaza Strip.
Since the commencement of the conflict between Israel and Hamas on October 7, 2023, hospitals in the Gaza Strip, which are protected under international humanitarian law, have been repeatedly targeted by Israeli strikes.
In October 2023, an attack on the Al-Ahli Arab Baptist Hospital resulted in the deaths of hundreds of people. Palestinian officials attributed the blast to an Israeli air strike. Israel, however, claimed the explosion was caused by a failed rocket launch by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad militant group, which denied responsibility.
The Israeli military has accused Hamas of utilizing tunnels beneath hospitals and using medical facilities as command centers to plan and execute attacks against the army and Israel. Hamas has denied these allegations.
The World Health Organization reported on March 28th that only 22 of Gaza's 36 hospitals were partially operational.
According to Gaza's health ministry, at least 1,563 Palestinians have died since March 18th, when a ceasefire collapsed. This brings the total death toll since the war began to 50,933.
11 Comments
Karamba
How can we turn a blind eye to the suffering of so many people? The world needs to act to protect Gaza's civilian population.
Rotfront
The reports from medical personnel in Gaza shed light on the severe humanitarian crisis occurring right now.
Matzomaster
It’s time to consider the bigger picture and realize that the conflict cannot be viewed through a black-and-white lens.
Rotfront
It’s inappropriate to consider this a “heinous crime” when there are militants hiding in plain sight.
Matzomaster
Condemning the strikes on hospitals is essential; these acts can never be justified, regardless of the situation.
BuggaBoom
This is a devastating incident that highlights the tragic effects of the ongoing conflict on innocent civilians.
Katchuka
We must amplify these voices from Gaza to ensure their suffering is not ignored in international discourse.
KittyKat
The media is biased against Israel and often fails to report on the rocket attacks that provoke such military responses.
Noir Black
Attacks on medical sites put the entire healthcare system at risk; we need to prioritize the protection of these institutions.
Eugene Alta
Emotional headlines like these only fuel division rather than promote understanding of the full context.
Loubianka
Where's the evidence of the alleged phone call from Israeli security? This sounds more like propaganda.