Tessa Quinn
Al Jazeera, along with other news outlets, has reported on Israel's attacks on hospitals in Gaza. These include the Indonesian Hospital, al-Awda Hospital, European Gaza Hospital, al-Ahli Arab Hospital, al-Shifa Hospital, al-Aqsa Hospital, and Nasser Hospital. There is evidence of damage to hospital buildings, medical staff casualties, and patients being killed or wounded. Israel has claimed that Hamas was using hospitals as bases, but these claims have been refuted by various sources. Al Jazeera journalists have also been targeted in these attacks, with some being killed, arrested, and interrogated. The targeting of health facilities and journalists is considered a war crime under the 1949 Geneva Convention.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of the incident | 17 October 2023 |
| Hospital | Al-Ahli Arab Hospital |
| Location | Gaza City |
| Number of fatalities | 200 according to the Anglican Diocese of Jerusalem, between 100 and 300 according to the US |
| Cause of explosion | Contested; Israel, the US, France, the UK, and Canada attributed it to a failed rocket launch from within Gaza by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, while Hamas and PIJ stated it was caused by an Israeli airstrike |
| Investigations | Channel 4 News, Al Jazeera, Earshot, and Forensic Architecture (FA) contested Israeli claims; Forensic Architecture concluded that the blast was the result of a munition fired from the direction of Israel |
| Damage | Inconsistent with an Israeli airstrike, according to experts; more likely caused by a rocket's fuel and shrapnel |
| Other hospitals impacted | Indonesian Hospital, al-Awda Hospital, European Gaza Hospital, al-Shifa Hospital, Kamal Adwan Hospital, al-Aqsa Hospital, al-Amal Hospital, Jordan Field Hospital, Yafa Hospital, Nasser Hospital, al-Awda Hospital, al-Shifa Hospital, al-Aqsa Hospital, Turkish-Palestinian Friendship Hospital |
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What You'll Learn
Al-Ahli Arab Hospital explosion
On 17 October 2023, an explosion took place in the courtyard of the Al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City, resulting in a large number of casualties among displaced Palestinians seeking shelter there. The cause of the explosion is contested. While Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) claimed that the explosion was caused by an Israeli airstrike, Israel, the United States, France, the United Kingdom, and Canada asserted that their intelligence sources indicate the cause was a failed rocket launch from within Gaza by the PIJ.
Initial reports suggested that an errant rocket launched from within Gaza and hitting the hospital's parking lot was the most probable cause. This theory was supported by analyses from various news outlets, including the Associated Press, CNN, The Economist, The Guardian, and The Wall Street Journal. However, investigations by Al Jazeera, Channel 4 News, and research groups Earshot and Forensic Architecture contested these claims, concluding that the blast was the result of a munition fired from the direction of Israel.
Further analyses by missile experts and organisations such as the New York Times, the Washington Post, and the Associated Press, pointed to inconsistencies with an Israeli airstrike. They suggested that the rocket may have broken apart mid-air, igniting fuel in the hospital's car park and causing the explosion. The absence of a large impact crater and the lack of widespread destruction supported this hypothesis. Additionally, the New York Times analysis showed that there was Israeli bombardment in the area, but the strikes were not within a range that endangered the hospital.
The Anglican Diocese of Jerusalem, which manages the hospital, reported 200 fatalities, while the US assessed a figure between 100 and 300. The Gaza Health Ministry initially reported over 500 deaths, but this was later corrected to 471 killed and 342 wounded. Human Rights Watch questioned the Health Ministry's casualty figures, stating that the high death-to-injury ratio was unusual.
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Indonesian Hospital under siege
The Indonesian Hospital in northern Gaza was rendered non-operational after coming under siege by the Israeli army. The hospital was the last functioning public medical facility in the north, and its director, Marwan al-Sultan, described the situation as "catastrophic", appealing to international organisations to intervene and ensure the safety of medical teams. The director of al-Shifa Hospital in northern Gaza, Dr Muhammad Abu Salmiya, warned that the bombing of the Indonesian Hospital would severely impact the chances of survival for those requiring medical attention. Dr Muhammad Zaqout, the director general of hospitals in Gaza, accused Israel of deliberately killing the wounded by preventing them from reaching hospitals and directly targeting patients, the injured, and medical staff.
The Indonesian Hospital was one of several hospitals targeted by Israeli forces during the conflict. Al-Awda Hospital in northern Gaza's Jabalia and the European Gaza Hospital in southern Gaza were also bombed, endangering patients and medical personnel. The United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed alarm at Israel's expanding operation in Gaza.
The targeting of health facilities, medical personnel, and patients is considered a war crime under the 1949 Geneva Convention. Despite this, hospitals have been repeatedly attacked during the conflict, with Israeli forces justifying their actions by claiming to target Hamas command centres and weaponry. However, these claims have been disputed, and evidence has been accused of being fabricated.
The impact of the attacks on hospitals extends beyond the immediate casualties and damage. The siege and bombing of al-Shifa Hospital, for example, resulted in the complete isolation of 15,000 people, including patients and refugees, from the rest of Gaza City. The destruction of critical supplies, medical equipment, and infrastructure has further exacerbated the humanitarian crisis, endangering the lives of thousands of vulnerable individuals.
The Indonesian Hospital siege is a tragic illustration of the devastating consequences of targeting hospitals during armed conflicts. It highlights the urgent need for the protection of medical facilities and personnel, as well as the impartial delivery of healthcare services in war zones. The international community's response to such incidents is crucial in upholding international humanitarian law and mitigating the devastating impact on civilians caught in the crossfire.
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al-Awda Hospital and European Gaza Hospital bombed
Al-Awda Hospital in northern Gaza' Jabalia and the European Gaza Hospital in southern Gaza were bombed by Israeli forces in May 2025. The attacks endangered patients and medical staff and were condemned by Hamas as a "brutal crime" that violated international laws and norms.
Al-Awda Hospital, the last functioning hospital in northern Gaza, was targeted by Israeli tanks that surrounded the facility. The tanks directly struck the hospital's Specialized Surgery Department and medicine warehouse, igniting a fire that medical crews could not extinguish due to ongoing gunfire. The attack also destroyed the hospital's water and fuel tanks and caused extensive damage to its infrastructure.
The European Gaza Hospital, one of Gaza's largest medical facilities, was hit by Israeli airstrikes that killed at least 28 people and injured at least 40 others. The attack targeted a militant complex under the hospital, where Hamas leader Mohammed Sinwar and other militants were allegedly killed. The hospital houses displaced Palestinians, and the strikes caused major damage to the hospital's entrance and various buildings, disabling the hospital and cutting off its water supply.
The bombings of Al-Awda Hospital and the European Gaza Hospital are part of a series of Israeli attacks on hospitals and medical personnel in Gaza. The Indonesian Hospital in northern Gaza was also rendered non-operational after being besieged by the Israeli army, and doctors from the al-Shifa Hospital in northern Gaza have spoken out against Israel's systematic measures against hospitals. The World Health Organization (WHO) has strongly condemned Israel's actions, including repeated evacuation orders for Al-Awda Hospital, and Doctors Without Borders has reported the deaths of their staff at Al-Awda Hospital due to strikes and bombings.
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al-Shifa Hospital under siege
Al-Shifa Hospital, the largest hospital in the Gaza enclave, was under siege for 14 days by Israeli forces. The siege resulted in the deaths of hundreds of people, including medical staff, and the mass arrests of its staff and others. The Israeli army ordered the surrender of all people remaining in the hospital. Verified footage showed Israeli bulldozers destroying the hospital complex.
The hospital was completely cut off from the rest of Gaza City, trapping 15,000 people who were either patients in need of treatment or had taken refuge in the hospital grounds. Israel claimed the hospital was used as a military base by Hamas, a claim Hamas denied. Analysis from the BBC, The Independent, and The Washington Post found Israel's claims to be "unconvincing".
During the siege, an Israeli air attack on an ambulance convoy outside the hospital resulted in many Palestinian deaths. The Israeli military reported killing 90 people in its raid on the hospital, as displaced Palestinians sheltering in the facility described long detentions and abuse.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that his government had "strong indications" that hostages were in Al-Shifa, which was one of the reasons they entered the hospital. However, experts accused Israel of fabricating evidence, and the IDF was criticised for refusing to allow any independent party to accompany them during the raid.
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al-Amal Hospital attacked
Al Amal Hospital in Khan Younis has been at the centre of military operations for over a month, with 40 direct hits that killed at least 25 people and incapacitated the health facility. The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) and the United Nations evacuated 24 patients from the hospital, including a pregnant woman and a mother with a newborn. However, 31 non-critical patients had to be left behind. Israeli forces blocked the WHO-led convoy for many hours and forced patients and staff out of ambulances. Three PRCS paramedics were detained despite their personal details having been shared with the Israeli forces in advance.
The Red Crescent reported that Israeli soldiers killed 12 people and wounded six after they opened fire while storming the hospital. The next day, another four people were killed and six were injured by Israeli forces. Eleven displaced people were wounded after Israel threw smoke bombs at the hospital. The Red Crescent had to bury three of its staff members.
Witnesses stated that the hospital was under constant bombing and tank shelling. The hospital was completely out of service by 26 March. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) condemned the continuous shelling and urged increased respect for the protective Red Crescent emblem.
The hospital manager, Dr Haidar Al-Qudra, said that the hospital previously had 100 beds and focused on maternal and child health. It was able to meet basic surgical and internal medicine needs while providing specialized rehabilitation services. However, the destruction caused by the bombing reduced its capacity to 60 beds. There are drastic shortages of essential goods and restrictions on what lifesaving supplies can enter the complex.
Israeli forces continue to raid healthcare facilities, with Al Amal Hospital enduring a weeks-long deadly siege.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, according to Al Jazeera, Israel has bombed several hospitals in Gaza, including the Indonesian Hospital, al-Awda Hospital, European Gaza Hospital, al-Shifa Hospital, al-Aqsa Hospital, and al-Ahli Arab Hospital.
The Al-Ahli Arab Hospital explosion refers to an incident on 17 October 2023, where an explosion took place in the hospital's parking lot, resulting in numerous fatalities and injuries among displaced Palestinians seeking shelter. The cause of the explosion is contested. While Israel claimed it was due to a failed Palestinian rocket launch, investigations by Al Jazeera and others suggested that the blast was the result of a munition fired from the direction of Israel.
Yes, in addition to the hospitals mentioned above, Israel has also targeted the following hospitals in Gaza:
- Nasser Hospital
- Kamal Adwan Hospital
- Al-Amal Hospital
- Jordan Field Hospital
