Jordan Ellis
Israel has been accused of committing genocidal acts in Gaza by systematically targeting hospitals and healthcare facilities. The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported over 164 attacks on healthcare in Gaza, with hospitals in Gaza facing severe shortages of medical supplies amid Israel's blockade. Israel's repeated targeting of hospitals has led to the complete breakdown of an already battered healthcare system, depriving civilians of desperately needed medical treatment.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Hospitals bombed by Israel | Al-Shifa Hospital, Al-Amal Hospital, Jordan Field Hospital, al-Awda Hospital, Nasser Hospital, Turkish-Palestinian Friendship Hospital, Al-Rantisi Hospital, Al-Ahli Hospital, Al-Nasr Hospital, Al-Quds Hospital, Indonesian Hospital |
| Date of attacks | 24 March 2024, 25 March 2024, 26 March 2024, 19 January 2024, 1 December 2023, 13 December 2023, 11 February (week-long), 17 December 2023, October 2023 |
| Number of people killed | More than 30,000 Palestinians, 700 Palestinians, 3-month-old baby |
| Number of people injured | 5,000, 2,200, 67,000 |
| Other consequences | Epidemics, malnutrition, dehydration, lack of medical supplies, lack of nourishment, safe drinking water, and essential medical care, severe burns, blast injuries, traumatic injuries, life-changing injuries |
| Israeli motive | Israel claims hospitals were used as military bases by Hamas |
| Rebuttal to Israeli motive | Analysis from BBC, The Independent, and The Washington Post found Israel's claims of a Hamas base at al-Shifa to be "unconvincing" |
| Humanitarian organizations involved | Palestine Red Crescent, ICRC, UNOCHA, Doctors Without Borders, World Health Organization, International Red Cross, International Court of Justice, International Committee of the Red Cross |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Israel's February ground incursion into Nasser Hospital
In February 2024, Israel Defence Forces (IDF) launched a week-long ground incursion into Nasser Hospital, the largest hospital in southern Gaza. This attack was part of a series of assaults that have killed over 30,000 Palestinians and left the majority of the 2.3 million population without shelter, safety, food, clean water, and essential medical care.
The Israeli army had surrounded the hospital as early as January 21, with medical staff reporting that the hospital was surrounded by Israeli forces. On January 23, the Israeli army ordered the evacuation of the residents of blocks 107 to 112, which included Nasser Hospital. From that day onwards, the hospital was at the centre of intense fighting and was considered by the medical staff to be under siege. No one could enter or leave the hospital without risking their lives, and ambulances were denied access.
On February 8, MSF staff reported sniper fire targeting Nasser Hospital, resulting in several deaths and injuries. One MSF staff member was shot in the shoulder and chest while in the break room. On February 13, the Israeli army issued an evacuation order for displaced people who had taken refuge inside the facility, but medical staff, their families, patients, and one caretaker per patient were allowed to remain.
On the night of February 14–15, despite security guarantees from the Israeli army, an Israeli shell hit the orthopedic ward, killing one person and wounding eight others. Israeli forces then stormed the hospital early in the morning on February 15, forcing thousands of displaced people sheltering in the large compound to leave. Everyone who left the hospital was screened by Israeli forces, and one MSF staff member was detained and later released on April 4.
The Israeli narrative of concern for patients and medical staff continued throughout the week-long incursion. The IDF claimed that it coordinated the supply of oxygen tanks, food, water, a fuel tank, a generator, medical equipment, and baby formula with international actors. However, the attack provided a graphic example of Israel's disregard for the duty to respect and protect the wounded and sick, as outlined in the Geneva Conventions.
El Camino Hospital: Opportunities for New Grads?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The destruction of Gaza's healthcare system
The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas has resulted in devastating consequences for the healthcare system in Gaza. Hospitals, ambulances, and clinics have been targeted by Israeli attacks, causing severe damage and disruption to essential medical services. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported 164 "attacks on healthcare" in Gaza since October 7, 2023, with the number likely to have increased since. These attacks have led to the complete breakdown of an already fragile healthcare system, leaving civilians without access to urgent medical care.
One of the most prominent incidents during this conflict was the targeting of Al-Shifa Hospital, the largest hospital in the Gaza Strip. Israeli forces raided and bombarded the hospital complex, claiming it was being used as a Hamas-operated command center. This assault resulted in the displacement of thousands of people who had sought refuge in the hospital grounds, in addition to the patients and medical staff already present. The analysis disputed Israel's claims, finding them unconvincing, although The New York Times later suggested Hamas did have a presence there.
Another incident involved the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS), which reported that its staff at Al-Amal Hospital were forced to evacuate due to Israeli tank attacks. The Red Crescent stated that hospital staff remained with nine patients, a family with disabled children, and a displaced person who had been fatally shot. The constant bombing and shelling of the hospital led to its eventual closure, further diminishing healthcare capacity in the region.
The impact of these attacks extends beyond physical damage to healthcare facilities. Blockades and obstructions of humanitarian convoys have resulted in critical shortages of medical supplies, water, fuel, and electricity. This has disrupted routine medical care for civilians, including childhood vaccinations, cancer treatment, and dialysis. The inability to access essential medical services has had a devastating impact on the population, exacerbating an already dire humanitarian situation.
Becoming a Hospital Chaplain: A Guide
You may want to see also
Explore related products
![The War [Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81SZxHIL1oL._AC_UY218_.jpg)
The targeting of Al-Shifa hospital
Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, Palestine, has been at the centre of allegations that it was used as a military base by Hamas during the Gaza war. Israel and the United States claimed that Hamas was using tunnels under the hospital as its "main operations base". Hamas and hospital administrators denied these allegations.
International law prohibits the targeting of hospitals unless there is evidence that they are being used for a military purpose that is "harmful to the enemy". Amnesty International and multiple news agencies stated that they had seen no credible evidence to support Israel's claims. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) released photos showing weapons and military equipment found in the hospital, but analysts were sceptical, noting that the arms did not seem to justify the military focus on Al-Shifa.
On 3 November, an Israeli airstrike targeted an ambulance convoy leaving Al-Shifa Hospital, killing 15 and wounding 60. Israel stated that Hamas was using the ambulances, but this was not supported by the Washington Post or Human Rights Watch. The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) stated that Israel had targeted Al-Shifa ambulances seven times prior.
On 13 November, doctors refused to evacuate the hospital, saying that they had to remain to tend to over 700 at-risk patients. The Health Ministry stated that 30,000 displaced people were sheltering inside the hospital at the start of the raid and that anyone who tried to move was targeted by sniper bullets and quadcopter drones. The hospital came under heavy Israeli gunfire, and a fire broke out in one of the buildings.
The World Health Organization stated that 21 patients had died since the start of the raid, and the hospital was left with blown-out windows and blackened concrete walls. The head of the World Health Organization called the raid "totally unacceptable", and United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk called for an independent investigation.
Breathalyzer Calibration: Hospital's Guide to Accuracy
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The prevention of aid from reaching hospitals
Israeli military attacks on Gaza have resulted in the destruction of hospitals and the obstruction of humanitarian aid, causing irreversible harm to the region's healthcare system and the people who depend on it.
In March 2025, a United Nations investigation concluded that Israel had committed genocidal acts by systematically destroying reproductive healthcare facilities in Gaza while imposing a siege that prevented necessary medications and treatments from reaching the region. This has caused "irreversible" harm to the reproductive prospects of Palestinians in Gaza, with the investigation denouncing the destruction as "a measure intended to prevent births among Palestinians in Gaza, which is a genocidal act".
During the conflict, hospitals have been directly targeted by Israeli attacks, resulting in damage to infrastructure and disruptions to essential medical services. Al-Shifa Hospital, for example, was under siege and bombing, trapping 15,000 people within its grounds. The Jordan Field Hospital in Gaza, operating since 2009, was also badly affected during the conflict. The Palestinian Red Crescent reported that Israeli tanks attacked Al-Amal Hospital, forcing its staff and patients to evacuate, leaving only a few medical staff behind with nine patients and a family with disabled children.
The obstruction of humanitarian aid and the targeting of hospitals have had devastating consequences for the population of Gaza. Doctors and aid workers have expressed concerns about the potential for epidemics due to the dire humanitarian situation. The lack of access to safe drinking water and nourishment has further exacerbated the situation, leading to an escalation of illnesses. The World Health Organization (WHO) has strongly condemned Israel's repeated orders to evacuate al-Awda Hospital in northern Gaza, stating that it will worsen the humanitarian and public health disaster in the region.
Psychiatric Hospitals: How Many Are There?
You may want to see also
The ICC's prosecution of Israel
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has been urged by human rights experts to prosecute Israelis responsible for the relentless assault on Gaza's healthcare system. The assault has included months of airstrikes, shelling, blockade, and the targeting of healthcare facilities, ambulances, access roads, and healthcare workers.
Israel's actions have resulted in the deaths of thousands of Palestinians and left millions without shelter, safety, food, water, and essential medical care. The World Health Organization (WHO) documented more than 350 attacks on healthcare in the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023, resulting in at least 645 deaths and 818 injuries.
The ICC has confirmed that it is investigating both sides in the conflict, including the October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas fighters on Israel and the subsequent Israeli offensive in Gaza. The ICC's office of the prosecutor has stated that it is investigating war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide, and aggression.
In April 2024, ICC staff interviewed Palestinian hospital staff from Gaza about possible war crimes. In May 2024, the ICC announced it would file applications for arrest warrants against Israeli leaders Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant. Netanyahu has rejected the ICC's jurisdiction, stating that Palestine is not a sovereign state capable of being a party to the Rome Statute. However, the ICC has ruled that it has jurisdiction over the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Gaza and the West Bank.
The prosecution of Israelis responsible for bombing hospitals in Gaza is part of the broader ICC investigation into suspected war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by both Israelis and Palestinians during the Gaza war.
Barbra Bush Hospital: Free Care for Children?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Israel has repeatedly targeted hospitals in Gaza, with the exact number of attacks unknown. Hospitals that have been targeted include Al-Shifa Hospital, Al-Amal Hospital, Al-Awda Hospital, Nasser Hospital, the Turkish-Palestinian Friendship Hospital, and Al-Rantisi Hospital.
The bombing of hospitals in Gaza has led to a near-total collapse of the healthcare system, with hospitals facing severe shortages of medical supplies and struggling to treat the influx of patients with traumatic injuries. Israel's actions have been condemned by humanitarian groups and the World Health Organization (WHO), which has called the orders to evacuate hospitals "a death sentence" for those in need of medical care.
Yes, there have been investigations and widespread condemnation of Israel's actions. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued a ruling in 2024, instructing Israel to take measures to prevent genocidal acts, although it did not rule specifically on the issue of bombing hospitals. The United Nations also concluded in an investigation in March 2025 that Israel has committed genocidal acts in Gaza by systematically destroying reproductive healthcare facilities and imposing a siege that prevents access to necessary medications.
