Ethan Rhodes
The topic of Israel bombing hospitals in Gaza is a highly controversial and complex issue that has sparked international outrage and condemnation. Since the Israeli bombardment of Gaza began in October 2023, there have been numerous reports and allegations of Israeli air strikes and ground invasions targeting hospitals and medical infrastructure in the region. The World Health Organization has recorded around 700 attacks on healthcare facilities, including major hospitals such as al-Shifa, Nasser, and the Indonesian hospital. These attacks have resulted in thousands of casualties and have severely impacted the already fragile healthcare system in Gaza. While Israeli officials justify these strikes by claiming that hospitals are used as military targets and shields by Hamas, the international community, including human rights organizations and the United Nations, have condemned the attacks as potential war crimes and violations of international law. The destruction of medical facilities, displacement of patients, and disruption of essential medical services have exacerbated the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, leading to calls for investigations and accountability. The debate surrounding Israel's actions in Gaza highlights the complexity of the conflict and the ongoing struggles of the civilian population caught in the crossfire.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of the incident | 17 October 2023 |
| Hospital | al-Ahli Arab Hospital, Gaza |
| Cause of explosion | Rocket-propelled munition |
| Responsibility | Unclear, Israel denies responsibility, investigations ongoing |
| Casualties | Many killed and injured |
| Reactions | UN Secretary-General, Human Rights Chief, Médecins Sans Frontières, Red Cross, and others expressed horror and demanded accountability |
| Previous incidents | Yes, Israel has a history of bombing hospitals in Gaza, including Nasser Hospital in February 2024 |
| Israeli response | Israel claims hospitals are being used as military control centres by Hamas and that they call for evacuation before bombing |
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What You'll Learn
The al-Ahli Arab Hospital explosion
On October 17, 2023, an explosion at the al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza killed and injured many civilians. The cause of the explosion was likely a rocket-propelled munition, according to Human Rights Watch. The hospital received a warning to evacuate hours before the explosion, but the origin of the rocket remains unclear.
Several organizations, including the United Nations, Médecins Sans Frontières, and the Red Cross, expressed horror and condemnation over the strike. The secretary-general of the United Nations, António Guterres, stated his outrage at the "killing of hundreds of Palestinian civilians in a strike on a hospital." The UN human rights chief, Volker Türk, demanded accountability for this "totally unacceptable" act.
There are conflicting opinions on whether Israel or Palestine was responsible for the explosion. The Associated Press (AP) analyzed videos, satellite imagery, and photos, concluding that the explosion was likely caused by a rocket fired from within Palestinian territory. This analysis was supported by experts in open-source intelligence, geolocation, and rocketry. However, other sources, such as Xavier Tytelman, an air defense consultant, noted that the damage was inconsistent with Israeli airstrikes and that the small explosion could be consistent with some missiles in Israel's arsenal.
Israel has a history of unlawful attacks on medical facilities and personnel in Gaza, contributing to the destruction of the region's healthcare system. Human Rights Watch and other organizations have called for investigations into these attacks as potential war crimes. Israel has also been criticized for its general evacuation orders to hospitals, which do not adequately protect patients and medical personnel.
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Israel's unlawful attacks on medical facilities
One notable incident was the bombing of the Al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City on October 17, 2023. The explosion killed and injured many civilians and caused extensive damage to the hospital and surrounding vehicles. While the definitive cause of the explosion remains disputed, preliminary investigations by the Associated Press and Human Rights Watch suggest that it was likely caused by a rocket fired from within Palestinian territory, possibly due to a misfire. However, the extent of the damage and the specific characteristics of the explosion have raised doubts about this explanation.
Human Rights Watch and other organisations have also documented multiple instances of Israeli forces striking ambulances, including one marked with the Red Cross emblem outside al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City on November 3, 2023. In another incident, the Israeli military raided Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, the largest hospital in southern Gaza, forcing the evacuation of thousands of displaced people and patients. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) claimed that Hamas was using the hospital for military operations and to hold Israeli hostages, but these allegations have been disputed.
The repeated targeting of medical facilities and personnel by the Israeli military has been described as a "systematic, sweeping pattern of obfuscation and unsubstantiated allegations" by Human Rights Watch. These actions not only violate international law but also severely impact the health and well-being of the Palestinian population in Gaza, who are already facing shortages of food, water, medicine, and essential supplies due to Israel's blockade of the region. The blockade itself has been characterised as a form of collective punishment and a war crime by Human Rights Watch and other humanitarian organisations.
The international community has expressed outrage at Israel's actions, with the United Nations, Médecins Sans Frontières, the Red Cross, and various countries condemning the attacks and calling for accountability. Despite Israel's denials and justifications, the evidence suggests a pattern of unlawful attacks on medical facilities that warrant further investigation and accountability to ensure the protection of civilians and medical personnel in Gaza.
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The destruction of Gaza's healthcare system
In addition to blocking essential supplies, Israel has also been accused of directly targeting hospitals and ambulances. For example, on February 15, 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 abruptly while the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) assaulted the facility. As in prior hospital incursions, Israeli spokespeople claimed that Hamas used the hospital for military operations, which, if true, would be a war crime. However, Israel has a history of making unsubstantiated allegations and obfuscating the facts.
Israel has also been accused of striking ambulances marked with the Red Cross or Red Crescent emblem, often near hospitals. On November 3, the Israeli military struck a marked ambulance outside of Gaza City's al-Shifa hospital, resulting in at least 21 dead or injured people in the surrounding area. While the Israeli military claimed that armed groups were unlawfully using the ambulance, they did not provide evidence to support this claim.
The repeated, apparently unlawful attacks on medical facilities, personnel, and transport by the Israeli military are further destroying the Gaza Strip’s healthcare system and should be investigated as war crimes. These attacks not only directly harm healthcare workers and patients but also disrupt the vital services that hospitals provide to the community.
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The international response
The international community has responded to the bombing of hospitals in Gaza with a mix of condemnation, calls for investigations, and humanitarian aid.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has strongly condemned Israel's repeated orders to evacuate hospitals in northern Gaza, stating that it would worsen the existing humanitarian and public health crisis. The WHO also reported that al Ahli Arab Hospital, the last fully functional hospital in Gaza City, was out of service following an Israeli attack.
The Jordanian government reported that the Israeli military had deliberately targeted its field hospital in Khan Younis and sent emergency medical aid to the hospital.
The Lebanese health ministry condemned Israel's shelling of the Meiss Ej Jabal Hospital, calling for an investigation into the attack.
The United Nations (UN) has stated that a bombing destroyed critical supplies in a hospital and rejected Israel's new plan to tightly control all aid to Gaza. The UN Special Rapporteur on the right to health, Tlaleng Mofokeng, affirmed that protected sites under international human rights law and international humanitarian law have been attacked. A report by the UN Human Rights Office raised serious concerns about Israel's compliance with international law, noting that the attacks had pushed the Palestinian healthcare system to the brink of collapse.
Health officials and medical organizations in the Gaza Strip have accused Israel of deliberately bombing ambulances and health facilities in violation of international laws, urging the International Criminal Court to investigate war crimes and crimes against humanity. Human Rights Watch (HRW) specifically called for an investigation into the attack on an ambulance near al-Shafa Hospital.
The Biden administration has been urged to demand that Israel cease its attacks and resume funding of UNRWA, which is crucial for the humanitarian response.
Public figures such as the Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell have also spoken out, expressing grief and praying for the staff, patients, and families affected by the attacks on hospitals in Gaza.
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The legality of Israel's actions
Israel's military actions in Gaza have resulted in repeated attacks on medical facilities, personnel, and transport, causing destruction to the region's already fragile healthcare system. These attacks are considered a breach of the laws of war, which grant special protections to ambulances and medical facilities. Israel has been accused of unlawfully striking hospitals, ambulances, and civilian objects, with the Human Rights Watch calling for these attacks to be investigated as war crimes.
During the February 2024 incursion into Nasser Hospital, Israeli forces claimed to have found weapons and detained 200 "terror suspects," justifying their actions as necessary to disrupt Hamas' military operations. However, Israel has been accused of misrepresenting circumstances on the ground and obfuscating essential facts, with the IDF denying access to humanitarian aid organizations like the World Health Organization (WHO) and endangering the lives of patients.
The Israeli government's blockade of Gaza, which prevents civilians' access to essential supplies like water, food, and medicine, has been condemned as collective punishment and a violation of international law, specifically the Fourth Geneva Convention, which mandates ensuring food and medical supplies for the occupied population.
While Israel defends its actions by claiming to target locations used as military control centers by Hamas, the impact of its military operations and blockade on Gaza's healthcare system and civilian population raises serious concerns about the legality and proportionality of its actions.
The international community, including the United Nations, human rights organizations, and humanitarian aid groups, has called for investigations, accountability, and an end to the blockade to alleviate the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Israel has bombed hospitals in Gaza. In February 2024, Israel raided Nasser Hospital, the largest in southern Gaza, after a week-long siege and shelling. In June 2025, an Israeli hospital in Beersheba was hit by an Iranian missile strike.
The Israeli military's repeated, unlawful attacks on medical facilities in Gaza have destroyed the region's healthcare system. Since the Israeli bombardment of Gaza began on October 7, 2023, more than 11,000 people have been killed, including over 4,500 children, and over 1.5 million people have been displaced.
The international community has widely condemned Israel's bombing of hospitals in Gaza. The United Nations, Médecins Sans Frontières, the Red Cross, and Human Rights Watch have all expressed horror and called for accountability. The Israeli government's blockade of Gaza, which prevents civilians' access to essential supplies like water, food, and medicine, has been labelled a war crime.
