Israeli Strike Devastates Gaza Hospital Amid Escalating Conflict

An Israeli airstrike has severely affected Gaza's Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital, targeting vital medical departments and prompting immediate evacuations. Hamas condemns the strike as a "horrific crime," while Israeli forces report ongoing military operations in response to prior attacks.

An Israeli military strike has left Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital in Gaza City in ruins, specifically targeting its intensive care and surgical departments, according to statements from Hamas. Eyewitness footage captured massive flames engulfing the building, with patients and medical staff fleeing amidst chaos. A local journalist reported that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) alerted hospital personnel about the impending strike via phone, ordering an evacuation within a mere 20-minute window.

While the civil emergency services have not confirmed any immediate casualties, the fear and urgency in the hospital were palpable as many rushed to escape the area, still dimly lit by pre-dawn darkness. The displacement of individuals seeking refuge within hospital courtyards added to the chaos, highlighting the desperate humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Prior to the current crisis, Al-Ahli was a smaller medical facility, yet it stands as the last operational hospital in Gaza City following the destruction of others, including Al-Shifa medical complex. In a statement released by the Hamas-run government media office, the strike was condemned as indicative of Israel’s "horrific crimes" against civilians and health facilities, amidst ongoing violence that has reportedly resulted in over 50,933 casualties in Gaza since the conflict escalated.

The situation is fraught with tension, particularly as a previous attack on the same hospital resulted in mass casualties that both sides attribute differently. The ongoing Israeli military campaign, instigated in response to a lethal cross-border assault earlier this month that resulted in over a thousand Israeli deaths, continues to escalate with further operations expected throughout Gaza.