The recent airstrike on al-Ahli hospital, which has left it largely non-operational, is part of escalating violence in the region, exacerbating the already dire state of healthcare amidst ongoing conflict.
Gaza Hospitals in Dire Condition: WHO Declares Health Crisis
Gaza Hospitals in Dire Condition: WHO Declares Health Crisis
The World Health Organization warns that the humanitarian situation in Gaza's hospitals has reached a critical state following an Israeli airstrike that severely damaged a major health facility.
Conditions at Gaza hospitals have plunged to a catastrophic level, prompting serious concerns from the World Health Organization (WHO). Dr. Margaret Harris, a spokesperson for the WHO, described the repeated assaults on medical facilities and healthcare workers as "attack after attack," emphasizing the severe shortages of medical supplies, a result of Israel's blockade on the territory.
On Sunday night, al-Ahli hospital, located in Gaza City, was struck by Israeli missiles, destroying its laboratory and severely damaging its emergency room. Although there were no immediate reports of casualties from the strike itself, it is believed that a child died as a consequence of disrupted medical care during an evacuation. The Israeli military claimed the facility was being utilized by Hamas for military operations, asserting that the strike targeted a command-and-control center.
The hospital, which is operated by the Church of England, has been a critical healthcare facility in the region and has now suffered its fifth attack since the onset of the current conflict. Key components such as the emergency room, pharmacy, and laboratory have been rendered inoperative, forcing the transfer of many patients to other locations. However, due to the urgent conditions, 40 critically ill patients who could not be moved were left stranded.
While WHO officials continued to advocate for the protection of healthcare facilities under international humanitarian law, the Israeli government defended its actions. They reiterated that advance warnings were given to hospital staff before the attack and labelled their operations as necessary to combat Hamas.
The Anglican Diocese of Jerusalem has condemned the idea that hospitals are being used for military purposes and has called for a thorough investigation into the airstrike. Meanwhile, the operational capacity of al-Ahli hospital continues to dwindle, leaving it unable to admit new patients amid a severe shortage of medical supplies exacerbated by the ongoing blockade.
As the conflict intensifies, the International Committee of the Red Cross has emphasized the risk to Gazans in need of healthcare services, adding that humanitarian aid deliveries have not been permitted in recent weeks. A key surgeon from al-Ahli described the hospital's remaining capacity as "similar to that of a hostel," highlighting the inability to perform surgical procedures due to a lack of essential resources.
The current escalation follows a campaign launched by Israel in October 2023 after a violent attack from Hamas resulted in numerous casualties and hostages. As casualties mount in Gaza, negotiations for a ceasefire to promote humanitarian aid and the release of hostages have stalled, leaving many in desperate need of medical attention and assistance.
As this precarious situation continues, the Church of England's House of Bishops has expressed profound concern over the ongoing violence and its impact on vulnerable populations in Gaza, underlining the need for unimpeded access to humanitarian relief and a reassessment of military actions affecting civilian lives.
