Israeli Airstrike Destroys Part of Last Functioning Hospital in Gaza City as Military Campaign Escalates
In a devastating escalation of the ongoing conflict in Gaza, an Israeli airstrike early Sunday morning destroyed parts of the Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital, the last fully functioning hospital in Gaza City. The hospital, operated by the Anglican church in Jerusalem, was severely damaged in the attack, with its emergency room, reception area, and adjoining St Philip’s church sustaining significant destruction. While no casualties were reported directly from the strike, the church confirmed the tragic death of a young boy with a head injury during the rushed evacuation of patients, citing that they received only 20 minutes’ notice prior to the strike.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that the strike targeted a Hamas command-and-control center allegedly located within the hospital. However, no concrete evidence has been provided to support the claim, and Hamas has firmly denied using the hospital for military purposes. The incident marks the fifth time Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital has been struck since October 2023, according to the Jerusalem diocese, which condemned the attack. The hospital’s two-storey Genetic Laboratory was completely demolished in the latest strike.
The World Health Organization (WHO) expressed grave concern over the situation, stating on X (formerly Twitter) that hospitals in Gaza are in desperate need of medical supplies and staff. WHO also revealed that two humanitarian missions to Al-Ahli and the Indonesian hospital were denied by Israeli authorities, further compounding the healthcare crisis. Al-Ahli, a critical facility serving up to 1,000 patients a day, has now been temporarily closed, with the Palestinian Ministry of Health redirecting patients to three other hospitals under severe strain.
On the ground, the Israeli military continues to expand its operations deep into the Gaza Strip. The IDF has created a significant buffer zone between the enclave and Israeli territory, forcing hundreds of thousands of civilians into increasingly overcrowded areas near the Mediterranean coast. In the south, the IDF seized control of the Morag corridor, effectively isolating Rafah from the rest of Gaza. The United Nations reports that approximately 400,000 people have been displaced over the past three weeks, many seeking shelter in hospitals despite their vulnerability.
Amid the destruction, patients and medical staff are left in dire conditions. Mohammed Abu Naser, a patient at Al-Ahli during the strike, described the horror of the moment, stating, “We expected that we would all die inside the hospital… I have no treatment or anything right now. We have no option but to travel abroad for treatment.” Samer Attar, an American doctor with the Palestinian American Bridge, highlighted the human toll, calling it a “desperate situation” and noting the exhaustion, hunger, and psychological trauma endured by the people.
Elsewhere in Gaza, Israeli airstrikes targeted various locations. In Deir al-Balah, a strike hit a building allegedly used as another Hamas command center, resulting in the deaths of three individuals. In a separate incident, a vehicle strike killed seven people, including six brothers, while another attack reportedly targeted the municipal building, killing a senior figure in the Hamas-run justice ministry.
The IDF stated that over 90 targets linked to what they describe as terrorist organizations were hit across Gaza in the previous 48 hours. They also intercepted another rocket fired from Gaza and issued fresh evacuation orders for areas in Khan Younis, warning of intensified military action in regions from which rockets are launched.
The escalation comes as Israel continues its campaign to pressure Hamas into releasing hostages. One such hostage, American-Israeli Edan Alexander, appeared in a newly released Hamas video, making a plea to former U.S. President Donald Trump for help. The video, believed to have been recorded recently based on Alexander’s statement of being held for 551 days, was shared by Hamas as a propaganda tool ahead of the Jewish holiday of Passover. His family has requested that media outlets refrain from sharing the video and instead publish a still image from it, urging the public to honor the hostages by leaving an empty place setting during Passover celebrations.
As the humanitarian crisis in Gaza intensifies, the international community continues to call for greater access to aid and protection for civilians. With hospitals under siege, civilian casualties mounting, and vital infrastructure being destroyed, the situation remains dire and increasingly volatile.
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