Israel has conducted a new attack on Al Ahli Hospital in Gaza, leading to the suspension of its operations and resulting in the death of a child with a head injury while being evacuated from the facility. According to reports from the World Health Organization (WHO), the offensive that occurred in the early hours of Sunday rendered the hospital inoperative, and caused the destruction of a pharmacy and several essential buildings and services.
At the time of the attack, around 40 patients who could not be moved continued to receive medical care at Al Ahli. Another 50, including the deceased child, had been evacuated to nearby medical centers just before the offensive took place. The situation in Gaza’s healthcare sector is alarming, with scarce medical supplies and growing concerns for the safety of medical personnel facing a constant influx of wounded.
Historically, Al Ahli Hospital had been the main center for victims of intense Israeli airstrikes in the region. Currently, many patients are being transferred to Al Shifa Hospital, which has also reported significant damage. According to the UN health agency, only 21 out of the 36 hospitals in Gaza are operating partially, and most have sustained damage since this conflict began, intensifying after Hamas’ attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus strongly condemned the hospital attack and reiterated the urgent need for a ceasefire, emphasizing that medical centers must be considered protected zones under international humanitarian law. He also urged the lifting of the blockade preventing humanitarian aid from reaching the region.
Humanitarian organizations have warned that this assault will further increase pressure on the hospitals still operating in Gaza, where incidents with mass casualties have become routine. Olga Cherevko, spokesperson for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, emphasized that hospitals are facing a critical shortage of supplies, including essential medications.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza has reached devastating levels. After seven weeks of border crossings being closed for aid and a month of resumed airstrikes, over 390,000 people have been displaced. Local health authorities report that more than 50,000 people have lost their lives and over 115,688 have been injured since the start of the conflict.
Humanitarian organizations warn that unless immediate changes occur, the crisis will worsen further. Cherevko stated that the catastrophe in Gaza will continue to deteriorate without adequate protection for civilians, as well as the reopening of border crossings allowing the entry of vital aid.
via: MiMub in Spanish
