On April 13, 2025, Israeli missiles hit Al-Ahli Arab Baptist Hospital in Gaza, hitting its emergency and reception departments. Israel said the attack was against Hamas militants who were using the facility, but it has caused outrage in Gaza and around the world. The missile attack left extensive damage but no casualties, as hospital personnel evacuated patients after being given advance notice. This attack is one of a disturbing trend of attacks on healthcare facilities in Gaza, underscoring the devastation of critical medical infrastructure in the midst of a humanitarian crisis. The attack raises larger questions about the safeguarding of medical facilities under international law in the course of the current Israel-Hamas conflict.
Evacuations and Immediate Impact on Healthcare
The missile attack created panic in the hospital. Medics removed patients following a threat by an individual who presented himself as working for Israeli security. No casualties were reported, but the attack rendered the hospital incapable of attending to its needy patients. The damage to the emergency and reception departments had seriously contributed to the already strained healthcare in Gaza. The strike also interfered with hospital activities, with personnel having difficulty providing shelter for patients in an area where medical facilities are scarce.
Israel’s Justification and Gaza’s Reactions
Israel justified the bombing on the grounds that Hamas was making military use of the hospital, a charge made by Hamas, which it disputes. The Israeli army reported having taken measures to limit harm to civilians before striking. Palestinian government officials and human rights organizations had denounced the attack as Israel worked to further reduce Gaza’s ability to provide health care. Both Hamas and the Palestinian foreign ministry declared the raid to be in breach of international law and constituting an attack aimed at degrading Gaza’s medical facilities.
Al-Ahli Hospital’s Role and Significance
Al-Ahli Hospital, founded in 1882, is Gaza’s oldest and most significant medical facility. It offers vital healthcare, particularly for cancer patients, and is the sole Christian hospital in the area. The hospital has long stood as a beacon of resilience amidst conflict. Constant attacks on this hospital are gravely concerning in terms of ensuring the safety of medical facilities in times of war. These attacks put pressure on Gaza’s already strained healthcare system and risk the lives of innocent people.
Global Implications and Demand for Accountability
The bombing of the Al-Ahli Hospital is one in a series of attacks on healthcare facilities during conflicts, and it is raising the call for more international accountability. Humanitarian agencies are demanding that there is an independent investigation into the strike. The international community has appealed to both Israel and Hamas to uphold the integrity of medical facilities as en before under international humanitarian law. Safeguarding medical facilities and civilians is becoming more of a pressing global issue as the conflict intensifies.
The Al-Ahli Hospital missile attack underscores the risk to health facilities in areas of conflict. While Israel and Hamas maintain ongoing military action, the global community has a duty to act urgently to safeguard health institutions and preserve international law. This attack places focus on the terrible toll taken by the war on Gaza’s tenuous healthcare infrastructure, with lasting effects for patients and medical personnel.
