Tessa Quinn
The conflict between Israel and Palestine has been a prolonged and violent one, with both sides accusing each other of war crimes and human rights abuses. In April 2025, an Israeli airstrike destroyed the last fully functional hospital in Gaza City, al-Ahli Arab Hospital, leading to the forced displacement of patients and hospital staff. This incident has sparked international condemnation and raised questions about whether Israel or Palestine is responsible for the bombing. There have been reports of Israel's repeated assaults on hospitals and its disregard for the protection of the wounded and sick, as outlined in the Geneva Conventions. On the other hand, Israel has accused Palestine of launching rockets and blamed the armed group Palestinian Islamic Jihad for the al-Ahli Arab Hospital explosion.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Who was bombed? | Palestinians |
| Who did the bombing? | Israel |
| What was bombed? | Hospitals, schools, mosques, churches, refugee camps, residential buildings, etc. |
| Where did the bombing take place? | Gaza Strip, Gaza City, Khan Younis, etc. |
| When did the bombing take place? | 2023-2025 |
| Why did the bombing take place? | Israel claims it was targeting Hamas militants and that Hamas was using hospitals for military operations. |
| How many were bombed? | By April 2024, 30 out of 36 hospitals in the Gaza Strip had been bombed. |
| How many were killed? | By April 2024, more than 48,000 Palestinians have been reported killed. |
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What You'll Learn
Israel's February 2024 ground incursion into Nasser Hospital
On February 15, 2024, Israeli ground troops forced thousands of displaced people seeking shelter in the hospital compound to evacuate. This assault resulted in the displacement of patients and hospital staff, causing further disruption to an already struggling health system in Gaza.
The incursion into Nasser Hospital was not an isolated event but part of a broader pattern of Israeli attacks on medical facilities in Gaza. By April 2024, 30 out of 36 hospitals in the Gaza Strip had been bombed, according to reports from Save the Children and UNICEF. These attacks have had severe consequences for the Palestinian population, with the World Health Organization (WHO) reporting that Israel has conducted at least 686 attacks on health facilities in Gaza since the start of the war.
The impact of these attacks has been devastating, with many hospitals now out of service, severely limiting access to healthcare for Palestinians in Gaza. Rights groups and foreign governments have accused Israel of engaging in genocide by deliberately targeting the Palestinian health system. Despite these accusations, the Israeli government continues to deny any wrongdoing and maintains that it takes extraordinary efforts to avoid civilian casualties and support hospital functioning.
The United States, while not directly joining the International Criminal Court (ICC), has started sharing evidence with the prosecutor regarding potential war crimes committed by Israel. This marks a significant shift and increases pressure on Israel to be held accountable for its actions.
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Israeli airstrikes on medical facilities
Since the start of the war, Israel has conducted at least 686 attacks on health facilities in Gaza, damaging at least 33 of the 36 hospitals in the Gaza Strip, according to the World Health Organization. The Israeli airstrikes on medical facilities include the bombing of the Turkish-Palestinian Friendship Hospital, the Nasser Medical Complex, a medical convoy at al-Shifa hospital, and the areas around the Al Shifa and Al Quds hospitals.
In April 2025, an Israeli airstrike destroyed part of the last fully functional hospital in Gaza City, the al Ahli Arab Hospital. The building was "completely destroyed", leading to the "forced displacement of patients and hospital staff". The UK Foreign Minister, David Lammy, stated that "deplorable attacks must end" and that "Israel's attacks on medical facilities have comprehensively degraded access to healthcare in Gaza." The Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, also expressed his grief and prayers for the staff, patients, and families of the hospital.
In February 2024, after a week-long siege and shelling of Nasser Hospital, Israeli ground troops forced thousands of displaced people sheltering in the hospital compound to leave while the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) assaulted the facility. Israeli spokespeople claimed that Hamas used the hospital for military operations and to hold the bodies of two Israeli hostages, which, if true, could be considered war crimes. However, Eylon Levy, a spokesperson for the Israeli government, falsely stated that the IDF facilitated the supply of medications to the hospital during the incursion.
The repeated targeting of medical facilities by Israeli airstrikes has severely impacted the already fragile healthcare system in Gaza, causing a comprehensive degradation of access to healthcare for Palestinians in the region. These actions have been widely condemned by international organizations and human rights groups, with some accusing Israel of displaying a flagrant disregard for the duty to respect and protect the wounded and sick, as outlined in the oldest Geneva Conventions.
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Israeli bombings in densely populated areas
Israel's bombing of the Gaza Strip has been described as "unlike any other in the 21st century". The Israeli Air Force has conducted an aerial bombardment campaign on the Gaza Strip during the Gaza War, killing thousands of Palestinians, mostly civilians, and damaging or destroying civilian infrastructure. By April 2024, 30 out of 36 hospitals in the Gaza Strip had been bombed, according to Save the Children and UNICEF. Israeli airstrikes on medical facilities include the bombing of the Turkish-Palestinian Friendship Hospital, the Nasser Medical Complex, a medical convoy at al-Shifa Hospital, and the areas around the Al Shifa and Al Quds hospitals.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have conducted numerous airstrikes in densely populated Palestinian refugee camps in both the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. On 23 October 2023, airstrikes killed 436 people in the Al-Shati camp and southern Khan Younis in one night. By 28 October 2023, the IDF bombed residential buildings in the Jabalia refugee camp without any prior warning, killing an estimated 50 people per hour. An airstrike on the Jabalia refugee camp on 31 October 2023 was described as a "massive massacre". On 13 November, an Israeli airstrike on the Jabalia refugee camp killed thirty people, and by 6 March 2024, aerial footage showed that the Al-Shati refugee camp, once one of the world's most densely populated areas, was in complete ruins.
The UN has recorded 212 "direct hits" on schools in Gaza by Israeli bombardment, with at least 53 schools totally destroyed. An airstrike at a UNRWA school killed at least six people. On 9 October, Israeli airstrikes hit a market in the Jabalia refugee camp, killing at least 69 people. The market street is known to be one of the busiest commercial areas in northern Gaza, and on that day it was even more crowded than usual. Videos of the aftermath show at least three multi-storey buildings completely destroyed and several other structures heavily damaged.
The UN Human Rights Office has assessed six emblematic attacks by the IDF in Gaza that led to high numbers of civilian fatalities and widespread destruction of civilian objects, raising serious concerns under the laws of war. The report concludes that the series of Israeli strikes indicates that the IDF may have repeatedly violated fundamental principles of the laws of war. Amnesty International has also documented unlawful Israeli attacks, including indiscriminate attacks, which caused mass civilian casualties and must be investigated as war crimes.
Israel has tried to minimise damage to hospitals by striking the area around the buildings, according to General Defrin, who said, "The aim was not to damage the hospital and, as much as we could, to avoid collateral damage." However, the World Health Organization reports that Israel has conducted at least 686 attacks on health facilities in Gaza since the start of the war, damaging at least 33 of Gaza's 36 hospitals. Many hospitals are now out of service, fueling accusations that Israel is engaged in genocide by wrecking the Palestinian health system.
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The 2014 Gaza War
The 2023 Israel-Gaza War has seen numerous attacks on hospitals and medical facilities, with both sides blaming each other for the attacks. The United Nations and human rights groups have condemned the targeting of hospitals and schools as crimes against humanity and called for the prevention of genocide.
On October 17, 2023, an explosion at Al Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City killed more than 470 civilians and trapped hundreds under the rubble. While Palestinian officials blamed an Israeli strike for the blast, Israel claimed it was caused by a failed rocket launch by the armed group Palestinian Islamic Jihad, which denied responsibility. The Associated Press and other experts concluded that the evidence suggested a rocket fired from within Palestinian territory caused the explosion, but some disputed this, saying they could not determine the cause.
On February 19, 2024, Israeli forces raided Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, the largest hospital in southern Gaza, resulting in the evacuation of patients and staff. This was part of a week-long ground incursion into Gaza by Israel, which had already severely impacted the region's health system. The World Health Organization documented more than 136 attacks on health care services in the occupied Palestinian territory, including 59 attacks on the Gaza Strip, resulting in the deaths of at least 16 health workers.
In March 2024, the Palestine Red Crescent reported that Israeli tanks attacked Al-Amal Hospital, forcing its evacuation. An airstrike also damaged the nearby Turkish-Palestinian Friendship Hospital. Additionally, two tents outside Al-Aqsa Hospital were hit by Israeli airstrikes, and the Kuwaiti Hospital became non-operational due to attacks by Israeli forces. The Gaza Health Ministry condemned the killing of two health workers at the Kuwaiti Hospital as a "heinous crime."
The targeting of hospitals and the denial of access to healthcare have had severe consequences for the people of Gaza. The destruction of reproductive healthcare facilities and the siege preventing necessary medications have caused irreversible harm to the reproductive prospects of Palestinians in the region. The obstruction of humanitarian aid and the denial of essential supplies, including food, fuel, water, electricity, and medicine, have exacerbated the humanitarian crisis.
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The Israeli-Palestinian conflict's impact on humanitarian aid
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has had a profound impact on the delivery of humanitarian aid to those affected by the violence. The ongoing violence and military operations in the region have created significant challenges for aid agencies and humanitarian workers attempting to provide assistance to civilians in need.
One of the most significant ways the conflict has impacted humanitarian aid is by causing extensive damage to civilian infrastructure, including hospitals and other medical facilities. According to the World Health Organization, Israel has conducted at least 686 attacks on health facilities in Gaza since the start of the war, damaging at least 33 of Gaza's 36 hospitals. These attacks have not only destroyed medical facilities but also disrupted essential services, making it difficult for humanitarian organizations to operate effectively.
The conflict has also led to the denial of critical food aid and basic necessities for Palestinians in Gaza. Israel's military operations and blockades have impeded the delivery of humanitarian aid, causing conditions approaching famine for hundreds of thousands of civilians. In June 2025, at least 51 Palestinians were killed while waiting for aid trucks to enter the Gaza Strip with desperately needed food. The previous year, Israel imposed an 80-day blockade on food deliveries to Gaza, leading to fears of widespread starvation in the region.
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has also resulted in the targeting of humanitarian aid workers and agencies. In June 2025, Israeli soldiers opened fire near a Gaza aid site in Rafah, killing at least 27 people who were waiting to receive food rations. The Palestine Red Crescent Society reported that at least 23 people were killed in the incident. Additionally, Israel has been accused of undermining and delegitimizing UN agencies and nongovernmental health and humanitarian agencies operating in Gaza, further hindering their ability to provide aid.
The impact of the conflict on humanitarian aid has led to international criticism and calls for action. The United States, a traditional ally of Israel, has issued demands for Israel to improve the humanitarian situation and comply with humanitarian access requirements. However, despite diplomatic efforts, Israel has continued to face accusations of failing to uphold its legal obligations to facilitate humanitarian relief and protect civilian infrastructure.
Overall, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has had a devastating impact on the delivery of humanitarian aid to affected civilians. The violence and military operations have disrupted essential services, impeded the work of aid agencies, and caused extensive damage to infrastructure. As a result, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have been left without access to critical food aid, medical care, and basic necessities.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Israel has bombed hospitals in Palestine. By April 2024, 30 out of 36 hospitals in the Gaza Strip had been bombed.
Israel bombed the Turkish-Palestinian Friendship Hospital, the Nasser Medical Complex, a medical convoy at Al-Shifa Hospital, and the areas around the Al Shifa and Al Quds hospitals.
Yes, Israel killed thousands of Palestinian civilians during the bombing.
Yes, Israel damaged or destroyed Palestinian schools, mosques, churches, and refugee camps.
The international community condemned Israel's actions. The UK Foreign Minister, David Lammy, said that "deplorable attacks must end". The Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, also expressed his dismay, stating that "for the only Christian hospital in Gaza to be attacked on Palm Sunday is especially appalling."
