Gaza City — In a significant and devastating development, the Al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City, which was the last fully functioning medical facility in the area, was destroyed following an Israeli airstrike. The bombing has triggered outrage and despair as the destruction of critical medical infrastructure leaves thousands of wounded and sick Palestinians with nowhere to turn.
Targeted Airstrike Levels Vital Hospital Facility
According to multiple reports, including those from the British news agency Reuters and other international media outlets, Israeli warplanes launched a targeted airstrike on Al-Ahli Arab Hospital, causing widespread destruction to its Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and surgical departments. Eyewitnesses reported that massive flames and thick smoke enveloped the two-story structure shortly after the attack.
Images and videos emerging from the scene showed panicked hospital staff and patients scrambling to evacuate amidst the chaos. Some patients, still lying in hospital beds, were seen being carried out or fleeing on foot, reflecting the gravity of the destruction. “The image of patients running in panic, with IV lines still attached to them, will stay with us forever,” said one witness who had arrived at the hospital minutes before the airstrike.
Israel Claims Target Was Hamas Command Center
The Israeli military stated that the airstrike on Al-Ahli Arab Hospital was aimed at what it claims to be a Hamas command and control center embedded within the hospital facility. In a statement, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) reiterated that Hamas has used civilian infrastructure, including hospitals, schools, and mosques, to shield its fighters and operations—a claim that Hamas and Palestinian officials consistently deny.
Despite Israel’s assertion, the Gaza Ministry of Health emphasized that no militants were present in the hospital and that its destruction violates international humanitarian law, which protects medical facilities in conflict zones. Human rights organizations have called for independent investigations into the matter.
No Immediate Casualties Reported in Hospital Strike
While the destruction of the hospital is being described as catastrophic for healthcare access in Gaza, emergency services confirmed that no casualties were immediately reported as a result of the strike. However, officials noted that several patients suffered from trauma and minor injuries while fleeing the building. The hospital had been serving as a critical care point for hundreds of patients, many of whom had been transferred from other damaged or destroyed hospitals across the Strip.
Other Attacks Claim Dozens of Lives Across Gaza
The destruction of Al-Ahli Hospital is part of a broader escalation of violence across Gaza. According to foreign media reports, another Israeli airstrike in the Deir al-Balah region resulted in the deaths of 37 people, including six brothers from the same family. Entire residential blocks have been flattened in continued bombings.
In Rafah and Khan Younis, southern parts of the Gaza Strip, more airstrikes were reported targeting what the IDF described as weapons depots and militant positions. However, local authorities reported significant civilian casualties, with bodies being pulled from the rubble by volunteers and rescue teams working with limited equipment and resources.
Death Toll Continues to Climb Amid Humanitarian Crisis
The Gaza Ministry of Health has stated that at least 50,944 Palestinians have been killed since the start of the Israeli offensive, with thousands more injured and in desperate need of medical care. However, the Government Media Office in Gaza has updated the number to over 61,700 deaths, emphasizing that the figures are likely underestimates due to thousands still buried under collapsed buildings and unaccounted for.
Children, women, and the elderly constitute a large percentage of the casualties, according to health officials. The targeting of residential neighborhoods and critical infrastructure has pushed the enclave further into a humanitarian catastrophe.
International Reactions and Calls for Ceasefire
The destruction of Al-Ahli Arab Hospital has drawn international condemnation. Humanitarian organizations, including Doctors Without Borders (MSF), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the International Red Cross, have reiterated calls for an immediate ceasefire and the protection of medical facilities under international law.
“Destroying a hospital is not only a violation of international humanitarian norms, but it also means depriving thousands of civilians of life-saving treatment,” said WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Amnesty International has called for an urgent investigation into the incident and has warned of the broader pattern of attacks on healthcare in Gaza. According to UN agencies, more than 75% of Gaza’s hospitals are either non-functional or only partially operational due to direct attacks, fuel shortages, and lack of medical supplies.
Background: Al-Ahli Arab Hospital’s Role in Gaza
Al-Ahli Arab Hospital was one of the oldest and most reputable hospitals in Gaza, founded in the early 20th century by Christian missionary groups. Over the years, it had grown into a fully equipped general hospital offering surgeries, emergency care, and maternity services. Since the start of the Israeli bombardment, Al-Ahli had become the last remaining fully functional hospital in Gaza City and was crucial in treating war-related injuries, including burns, amputations, and trauma cases.
It was previously targeted in a deadly explosion in October 2023, which killed hundreds, but had continued to operate in reduced capacity with international support and local dedication.
Repercussions of Hospital Destruction on Public Health
With the loss of Al-Ahli, Gaza’s already fragile healthcare system has effectively collapsed. Medical professionals are now treating patients in makeshift tents, schools-turned-shelters, and even open streets. According to Médecins Sans Frontières, many patients are undergoing surgeries without anesthesia due to dwindling medical stocks. Dialysis patients, cancer patients, and newborns in incubators are at extreme risk.
Contagious diseases such as cholera, diarrhea, and respiratory infections are spreading rapidly in overcrowded refugee camps, where clean water and sanitation are nearly nonexistent.
What Comes Next for Gaza?
As the war continues and diplomatic efforts stall, the situation in Gaza grows increasingly dire. The UN has warned that if hostilities do not cease soon, the region could face a complete collapse of civil society. Aid organizations are pleading for humanitarian corridors to evacuate critically ill patients and deliver essential aid.
While Israel maintains that its objective is to eliminate Hamas, the humanitarian toll of the military campaign has sparked widespread protests and concern globally. Meanwhile, Palestinian officials argue that continued attacks on civilians and infrastructure, such as hospitals, amount to war crimes and should be prosecuted at the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Conclusion: A Grim Milestone in a Continuing Conflict
The destruction of Al-Ahli Arab Hospital marks a grim milestone in the ongoing war in Gaza, highlighting the deepening humanitarian crisis and the urgent need for international intervention. As one of the last symbols of hope for countless Gazans, the hospital’s loss leaves a deep void in a region already grappling with devastation and despair.
With casualties mounting, and healthcare access almost completely eliminated in the north of the Strip, pressure is building on global powers to push for a lasting ceasefire and meaningful peace negotiations. Until then, the people of Gaza face an increasingly uncertain and dangerous future.
