Gaza City, Gaza Strip – The Israeli military conducted an air strike that resulted in the destruction of a portion of the only functioning hospital in Gaza City, as reported by the territory’s Hamas-run health ministry.

The strike targeted the intensive care and surgery departments of Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital, leading to the collapse of a two-storey building and the emergence of massive flames and smoke seen from the site. Individuals, including patients still in hospital beds, were captured on video fleeing the scene as the attack unfolded.

According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), the hospital served as a “command and control center used by Hamas.” Despite the intensity of the strike, Gaza’s civil emergency service stated that no casualties were reported.

The health ministry conveyed that the hospital building was completely demolished, resulting in the displacement of patients and hospital staff. In response, the IDF indicated that measures were taken to minimize harm to civilians and the hospital compound by providing advanced warnings, utilizing precise munitions, and conducting aerial surveillance.

Amid the chaos, a local journalist present at the hospital disclosed that the IDF contacted a doctor within the emergency department, instructing an immediate evacuation of the premises. Patients and displaced individuals were urged to move to a safe distance within a limited timeframe.

Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital, formerly a modest medical facility, stands as the sole operational hospital in Gaza City following the devastation of Al-Shifa medical complex and other hospitals in the northern region of the Strip. The Hamas-run government media office condemned the attack, condemning Israel for targeting a facility supporting hundreds of patients and medical practitioners.