Ethan Rhodes
Al-Shifa Hospital, also known as Shifa Hospital, is the largest hospital in Gaza. It was originally a British Army barracks but was transformed into a hospital in 1946 during British rule. The hospital has been at the centre of the Israel-Palestine conflict, with Israel accusing Hamas of using the hospital for military purposes. The hospital has been raided by Israel and has treated injured Palestinians during Israeli airstrikes.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Al-Shifa Hospital |
| Other names | Shifa Hospital, Dar al-Shifa |
| Location | Gaza City, a few hundred meters from the small fishing port |
| Year established | 1946 |
| History | Originally a British Army barracks, transformed into a center for treating quarantine and febrile diseases |
| Renovation | Major Israeli renovation and expansion in the 1980s and 1990s |
| Departments | Internal medicine, pediatrics, surgery, ophthalmology, gynecology |
| Number of beds | 700 |
| Number of operating rooms | 25 |
| Recent events | Became the focus of a stalemate in Israel's war against Hamas in 2023 |
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What You'll Learn
Al-Shifa Hospital is Gaza's largest hospital
The hospital is located a few hundred meters from Gaza City's small fishing port, between the Beach refugee camp and the city's Rimal neighbourhood. Its name comes from the Arabic word "Dar al-Shifa", which means "house of healing". The largest department in Al-Shifa is internal medicine, with 100 beds, followed by pediatrics (70 beds), surgery (50 beds), ophthalmology (20 beds), and gynecology (10 beds).
Al-Shifa Hospital has been at the centre of the conflict between Israel and Hamas. Israel has accused Hamas of using the hospital for military purposes, claiming that Hamas has built an underground command centre with tunnels connected to the hospital. However, Hamas, health authorities, and Shifa directors have denied these accusations and invited international inspections.
The hospital has faced challenges due to fuel shortages, threatening the lives of patients dependent on ventilators. Israeli military officials have stated that fuel has been provided for hospitals, but its distribution is not their responsibility. Al-Shifa Hospital continues to provide critical care to the people of Gaza, despite the challenges posed by the conflict and resource shortages.
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The hospital was built in 1946 during British rule
Al-Shifa Hospital, also known as Shifa Hospital, is the largest hospital in Gaza. It was built in 1946 during British rule. At the time, it was known as Dar al-Shifa, which translates to "house of healing" in Arabic. It was originally a British Army barracks but was converted into a medical facility specialising in the treatment of quarantine and febrile diseases. This conversion was carried out by the government of the British Mandate of Palestine.
The hospital has played a significant role in the region's history and has been at the centre of numerous conflicts between Israeli and Palestinian forces. In 1948, it survived the Egyptian invasion and went on to serve as a crucial medical hub under two decades of Egyptian military rule. During this period, the hospital expanded its departments, adding new wings for internal medicine, surgery, paediatrics, and ophthalmology.
In 1967, Israel captured and occupied the Gaza Strip, leading to regular clashes near the hospital. Al-Shifa Hospital became entangled in the conflict, with Israeli forces storming the hospital on multiple occasions during the First Intifada in 1987. Israeli helicopters dropped tear gas grenades into the central courtyard, causing panic among patients, their relatives, and staff.
The hospital has undergone renovations and expansions over the years, including a major Israeli renovation project in the 1980s aimed at improving living conditions for Gaza residents. This project reflected modernist and postmodernist trends in Israeli architecture. However, the hospital has also been raided and damaged by Israeli forces, with reports of destroyed medical equipment and assaults on patients and staff.
More recently, in 2023, Al-Shifa Hospital made headlines again as Israel accused Hamas, the militant group controlling Gaza, of using the hospital for military purposes and constructing underground tunnels and command centres beneath it. Despite these accusations and the ongoing conflict, the hospital continues to serve the medical needs of the Gaza community, providing critical care and treatment to those in need.
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It was raided by Israel in 2023
Al-Shifa Hospital, also known as Shifa Hospital, is the largest hospital in Gaza. It was originally a British Army barracks but was transformed into a hospital in 1946 during British rule in Palestine. The name "al-Shifa" means "house of healing" in Arabic.
In 2023, Israel accused Hamas of using the hospital for military purposes, claiming that Hamas had built a vast underground command centre connected by tunnels. These accusations were denied by Hamas, Gaza health officials, and Shifa directors, who invited international inspection. Despite this, Israeli forces moved in on the hospital, causing a days-long stalemate. During this time, Israel offered to allow staff and patients to evacuate, but Palestinians said that Israeli forces fired at those attempting to leave. Doctors also reported that the hospital had run out of fuel, putting patients' lives at risk.
On November 5, 2023, there are reports of injured Palestinians receiving treatment at Al-Shifa Hospital following Israeli airstrikes on Gaza City. Smoke was seen rising from the hospital as displaced Palestinians took shelter there amid the ongoing conflict. This incident was part of a larger pattern of Israeli attacks on and near hospitals in Gaza, documented between October 7, 2023, and June 30, 2024, which raised serious concerns about Israel's compliance with international law and pushed the healthcare system to the brink of collapse.
The Israeli military first raided the Al Shifa Medical Complex in November 2023 and again in March 2024, leaving it in complete ruin by April 1. After the Israeli military withdrew, three mass graves were found at the hospital, with at least 80 corpses retrieved. These attacks were part of a larger pattern of Israeli assaults on healthcare facilities in Gaza, with the WHO reporting 492 attacks on healthcare in Gaza between October 7, 2023, and September 19, 2024, resulting in 492 deaths.
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The hospital has 700 beds and 25 operating rooms
Al-Shifa Hospital, also known as Shifa Hospital, is the largest hospital in Gaza. It was originally a British Army barracks but was transformed into a hospital in 1946 during British rule. The name comes from the Arabic word "Dar al-Shifa", which means "house of healing".
During the renovation in the 1980s, a basement was added, which included a secure underground operating room and tunnel network. Israel claims that Hamas has used these tunnels to build a vast underground command center below the hospital. However, Hamas, health authorities, and Shifa directors have denied these accusations and invited international inspections to verify their claims.
The hospital has been raided by Israel, and Israeli airstrikes and raids have devastated medical facilities in Gaza. Doctors and healthcare workers in Gaza risk their lives to save others, and the hospital has faced critical shortages of fuel and medical supplies due to the ongoing conflict. Despite the challenges, Al-Shifa Hospital remains a vital medical facility in Gaza, providing care for those injured and affected by the conflict.
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Israel claims Hamas uses the hospital for military purposes
Al-Shifa Hospital, Gaza's largest hospital, has been at the centre of a days-long stalemate in Israel's war against Hamas. Israel claims Hamas uses the hospital for military purposes, including building an extensive underground tunnel network and a command centre. Israel has also accused Hamas of using the hospital to abduct, torture, and kill Palestinians accused of collaborating with Israel.
Hamas and hospital administrators have denied these allegations, stating that no tunnels exist beneath the hospital and requesting an international delegation to verify their claims. The lack of independent scrutiny and convincing evidence has led to skepticism about Israel's accusations. Journalists and analysts have questioned the validity of Israel's claims, suggesting that the weaponry may have been rearranged before the press was allowed into the hospital.
During the Gaza war, the IDF stated that the hospital served as a significant command and control centre for Hamas, making it a prime target during the siege of Gaza. This position was supported by US intelligence based on their assessments and interrogations of captured Hamas militants. However, Hamas denied these accusations, and hospital staff accused Israel of directly causing civilian deaths at al-Shifa.
The alleged misuse of hospitals by Hamas has sparked debates within the United Nations Security Council. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, called for urgent international action to protect civilians and ensure accountability through independent investigations. The representative of Israel emphasised that Hamas had transformed hospitals into tools for terror, exploiting their sanctity to pursue violent aims. In contrast, the Egyptian delegate, speaking for the Arab Group, refuted Israel's claims, stating that there was no evidence supporting the allegation that hospitals in Gaza were being misused.
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Frequently asked questions
Al-Shifa Hospital, also known as Shifa Hospital, is the largest hospital in Gaza.
Al-Shifa Hospital is located a few hundred meters from Gaza City's small fishing port, sandwiched between the Beach refugee camp and the city's Rimal neighbourhood.
Al-Shifa, also known as Dar al-Shifa, means "house of healing" in Arabic.
