Gaza City, Palestine – An Israeli air strike has severely damaged the last operational hospital in Gaza City, further exacerbating the already dire humanitarian situation in the region. The strike, which targeted the Al-Ahli Baptist hospital, resulted in the evacuation of patients with only 20 minutes of warning, leaving an injured boy dead during the chaotic evacuation process. Parts of the hospital, including the emergency room and reception area, sustained extensive damage, while an adjoining church also suffered harm.
According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), the strike was aimed at a “command-and-control center used by Hamas,” though Hamas denied that the hospital was being used for military purposes. The IDF claimed to have taken precautions to minimize harm to civilians before carrying out the attack. As a result of Israel’s military operations in Gaza, hundreds of thousands of civilians have been displaced and confined to an increasingly smaller area along the Mediterranean coast.
The assault on the Al-Ahli Baptist hospital has drawn condemnation from various international entities, including the UK, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that the hospital’s pharmacy was destroyed, leading to the relocation of 50 patients to other medical facilities, while 40 critically ill patients remained unable to be transferred. The hospital director attributed the death of a child during the evacuation to a lack of oxygen and extreme cold.
As the conflict in Gaza intensifies, medical facilities are grappling with severe shortages of essential supplies and equipment. The WHO has expressed concern over the limited humanitarian access to Gaza, hindering efforts to resupply hospitals and provide life-saving care to patients. The situation in Gaza remains precarious, with ongoing airstrikes targeting various locations in the region, causing further devastation and loss of life.
The Israeli military’s offensive in Gaza is part of a broader strategy to pressure Hamas into releasing hostages currently held by the group. One hostage, American-Israeli Edan Alexander, appeared in a video released by Hamas, pleading for help and expressing hope in President Donald Trump’s intervention. The video, recorded just before the Jewish holiday of Passover, underscored the urgency and desperation of the situation faced by the hostages and their families.
