Ethan Rhodes
Israel has been accused of committing war crimes in Gaza, with reports of attacks on hospitals and medical facilities. In October 2023, an explosion at a hospital in Gaza City killed hundreds, with Palestinian officials blaming an Israeli strike. This was followed by Israeli attacks on other hospitals in Gaza, including Al-Shifa Hospital, which was under siege and bombing during the war. In February 2024, an Israeli airstrike damaged a fuel tank at Gaza European Hospital, killing one person and injuring at least six. In April 2025, an Israeli airstrike destroyed part of Al Ahli Arab Hospital, the last fully functional hospital in Gaza City. These attacks have raised serious concerns about Israel's compliance with international law and its respect for the protection of hospitals and medical personnel during warfare.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 13 April 2025 |
| Hospital | Al-Ahli Hospital |
| Attacked Entity | Israeli troops |
| Attack Type | Bombing, Arresting |
| Damage | Partial destruction of the building, Emergency department out of service |
| Deaths | 4 |
| Arrests | Doctors, patients, and medical staff |
| Reason | Israel claims the hospital was used as a military base by Hamas |
| Hamas Denial | Yes |
| Hamas Presence | Analysis from BBC, The Independent, and The Washington Post found Israel's claims "unconvincing". The New York Times suggests Hamas did store weapons and took cover at the hospital, using tunnels. |
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What You'll Learn
- Israeli airstrike hits ambulance convoy departing from al-Shifa Hospital
- Israeli troops arrest doctors, patients, and medical staff at al-Ahli Hospital
- Israeli airstrike destroys part of the last fully functional hospital in Gaza City
- Israeli military attacks Kamal Adwan hospital, leaving North Gaza with little healthcare access
- Israeli attacks on hospitals in Gaza raise serious international law concerns
Israeli airstrike hits ambulance convoy departing from al-Shifa Hospital
On 3 November 2023, an Israeli airstrike hit an ambulance convoy departing from al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza, carrying critically injured patients. The strike killed 15 people, including four from the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS), and wounded at least 60. The PRCS, which was part of the convoy, said that all 15 people killed were civilians. The airstrike also caused damage to the hospital itself.
Israel has claimed responsibility for the attack, stating that the ambulance was being used by Hamas. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) acknowledged that it carried out the airstrike, asserting that Hamas militants were killed in the attack and that one of the ambulances was transporting Hamas personnel and weaponry. However, the Gaza Health Ministry, Human Rights Watch, and the Palestine Red Crescent Society have denied any military use of the ambulances, and no evidence of weapons or individuals in military clothing was found in video analyses by The Washington Post.
The attack on the ambulance convoy is part of a series of Israeli strikes on hospitals and medical facilities in Gaza. Al-Shifa Hospital, the largest medical facility in Gaza, has been under siege and bombing during the war. The hospital has been cut off from the rest of Gaza City, trapping 15,000 people who are either patients or have taken refuge in the hospital grounds. Israel claims that the hospital is used as a military base by Hamas, but this has been disputed by Hamas and deemed “unconvincing” by several media outlets.
The ongoing conflict has resulted in the overcrowding of al-Shifa Hospital, with a bed occupancy rate of 164%. At least 16 hospitals across Gaza are no longer functioning due to bombing damage and fuel shortages. The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported attacks on healthcare facilities in Palestine, with over 500 attacks verified in the Gaza Strip since October 2023. The bombardment has overwhelmed Gaza's medical institutions, causing shortages of food, water, and medicine.
The attacks on hospitals and medical personnel in Gaza have raised concerns about potential war crimes and violations of international law. Medical personnel have special protections under IHL, and attacks on civilian places like schools and hospitals can constitute war crimes. There have been calls for accountability and for ensuring the safety of health workers in the region.
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Israeli troops arrest doctors, patients, and medical staff at al-Ahli Hospital
On 18 December 2023, Israeli soldiers attacked the al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City, forcing displaced people out and arresting two doctors. The following day, the hospital director issued a statement revealing that Israeli troops had arrested doctors, patients, and medical staff, and partially destroyed the hospital grounds, rendering it incapable of receiving patients. Four people died as a direct result of the 18 December attacks on the hospital.
On 13 April 2025, Israel bombed a section of the hospital, destroying its emergency department. The al-Ahli Hospital was not the only medical facility targeted during the Gaza war. Al-Shifa Hospital, for instance, was under siege and bombing during the war, with Israel claiming it was used as a military base by Hamas. However, Hamas denied these claims, and subsequent analyses from the BBC, The Independent, and The Washington Post found the allegations unconvincing.
Israel has a history of attacking hospitals in Gaza, with sources citing attacks on Nasser Hospital, Kamal Adwan Hospital, Al-Aqsa Hospital, Al-Awda Hospital, and Indonesia Hospital, among others. These attacks have resulted in the deaths and injuries of numerous patients and medical personnel, as well as the destruction of medical facilities and equipment.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has verified 516 attacks on healthcare in the Gaza Strip since October 2023. A United Nations investigation in March 2025 concluded that Israel committed genocidal acts in Gaza by systematically destroying reproductive healthcare facilities and imposing a siege that prevented access to essential medications. This destruction was deemed "irreversible harm" to the reproductive prospects of Palestinians in Gaza.
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Israeli airstrike destroys part of the last fully functional hospital in Gaza City
On 13 April 2025, an Israeli airstrike destroyed part of al Ahli Arab Hospital, the last fully functional hospital in Gaza City. The strike destroyed the intensive care and surgery departments of the hospital. Video footage posted online showed huge flames and smoke rising after missiles hit a two-storey building. People, including patients still in their hospital beds, were filmed rushing away from the site.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) justified the attack by stating that the hospital contained a "command and control centre used by Hamas". However, no casualties were reported, according to Gaza's civil emergency service. Nevertheless, the rushed evacuation process resulted in the death of a child, who had previously suffered a head injury, according to the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem, which runs the hospital.
The airstrike also caused damage to surrounding buildings, including St Philip's Church. This incident marked yet another attack on a healthcare facility in Gaza, contributing to the region's deteriorating humanitarian situation.
The destruction of al Ahli Arab Hospital has severe implications for healthcare access in Gaza. As the only fully functional hospital in Gaza City, its incapacitation has left the population with limited options for medical treatment. This attack aligns with a pattern of Israeli strikes on hospitals and medical facilities in the region, which have been widely condemned by international organisations and human rights groups.
The incident has elicited strong reactions from notable figures such as UK Foreign Minister David Lammy, who described the attack as "deplorable" and emphasised the comprehensive degradation of healthcare access in Gaza due to Israeli strikes on medical facilities. The Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, also expressed his dismay, particularly since the attack occurred on Palm Sunday, a significant Christian holy day.
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Israeli military attacks Kamal Adwan hospital, leaving North Gaza with little healthcare access
The Israeli military's attacks on Kamal Adwan hospital have left the North Gaza population with little access to healthcare. The Israeli military's first major operation against a hospital involved Al Shifa Medical Complex in November 2023. It raided the facility a second time in March 2024, leaving it in complete ruin by 1 April. The World Health Organization (WHO) has verified 516 attacks on healthcare in the Gaza Strip since October 2023.
The Israeli raid on Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, the largest in southern Gaza, lasted a week. Israeli ground troops forced thousands of displaced people sheltering in the hospital compound to leave while the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) assaulted the facility. The IDF claimed that Hamas used the hospital for military operations and to hold the bodies of two Israeli hostages. The IDF also denied the WHO access to the hospital for two days after the incursion began.
Israeli airstrikes have targeted other hospitals in Gaza, including Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza, and al-Ahli Hospital. In October 2023, an explosion at al Ahli Arab Hospital, the last fully functional hospital in Gaza City, killed hundreds of people. Palestinian officials blamed an Israeli strike for the blast, but Israel claimed it was caused by a failed rocket launch by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
The destruction of healthcare facilities in Gaza has had a catastrophic effect on Palestinians' access to healthcare. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, has stated that the protection of hospitals during warfare must be respected by all sides. The Israeli military's attacks on hospitals in Gaza raise serious concerns about Israel's compliance with international law.
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Israeli attacks on hospitals in Gaza raise serious international law concerns
Israeli attacks on hospitals in Gaza have raised serious concerns about the country's compliance with international law. The UN Human Rights Office has documented Israeli attacks on and near hospitals in Gaza between 7 October 2023 and 30 June 2024, which have had catastrophic effects on Palestinians' access to healthcare.
Medical personnel and hospitals are specifically protected under international humanitarian law, provided they do not commit acts harmful to the enemy. The World Health Organization (WHO) has verified 516 attacks on healthcare in the Gaza Strip since October 2023. These attacks have killed more than 30,000 Palestinians and left almost the entire population of 2.3 million without shelter, safety, food, clean water, and essential medical care.
Israeli airstrikes have targeted hospitals in Gaza, killing and injuring civilians. For instance, an Israeli airstrike hit an ambulance convoy departing from al-Shifa Hospital in November 2023, killing 15 civilians and wounding 60. In March 2025, an Israeli airstrike destroyed the emergency department of al-Ahli Hospital. In April 2025, an Israeli airstrike hit the courtyard of Al-Aqsa Hospital, killing at least four people and injuring 17. These attacks have damaged or destroyed hospitals, disrupted patient care, and resulted in deaths.
Israel has justified its attacks by claiming that Hamas uses hospitals for military operations and to hold hostages. However, these allegations have been disputed, and Israel's accounts have been accused of omitting essential facts and misrepresenting circumstances on the ground. The protection of hospitals during warfare is paramount and must be respected by all sides, as stated by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk. The international community must prioritize ensuring access to adequate healthcare for the Palestinian population and restoring the medical capacity that has been destroyed during the conflict.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Israel has attacked hospitals in Gaza. On 3 November 2023, an Israeli airstrike hit an ambulance convoy departing from al-Shifa Hospital, killing 15 people and wounding at least 60. Israel has also attacked the Turkish-Palestinian Friendship Hospital, the Al-Quds and Indonesian Hospitals, Nasser Hospital, Kamal Adwan Hospital, and al Ahli Hospital.
The attacks have pushed the healthcare system in Gaza to the brink of total collapse, with catastrophic effects on Palestinians' access to healthcare. As of October 2024, the World Health Organization had verified 516 attacks on healthcare in the Gaza Strip since October 2023.
The international community has expressed grave concern over the attacks and raised questions about Israel's compliance with international law. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, has emphasized the paramount importance of protecting hospitals during warfare. President Joe Biden withheld a shipment of 2,000-pound bombs and warned Israel not to attack Rafah, but his warnings were ignored.
Israel has denied allegations of wrongdoing and claimed that Hamas was using hospitals for military operations and to hold hostages. However, these claims have been disputed by multiple sources, including the Palestine Red Crescent Society, Human Rights Watch, and The Washington Post.
