The current war in Gaza has devastated hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare spaces. The recent Israeli strike on Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital represents a new and terrible escalation in this ongoing crisis. This makes this facility one of the last operational hospitals in all of Gaza. Now it is no longer in operation because of severe damage including the wiping out of its pharmacy.
Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital, located in Gaza City and run by the Anglican Church in Jerusalem, is another crucial lifeline for the community. It serves over 1,000 patients per day. The World Health Organization (WHO) just recently verified that the pharmacy inside this hospital is officially “out of service.” This harmful shutdown largely cuts off all medical care to those in greatest need. Since the strike, with support from humanitarian partner Medair, the WHO has rapidly moved all 50 patients to other safe facilities. Tragically, 40 of those critically ill patients were trapped inside during the big attack.
The scale of destruction became even more tragic with the speedy evacuation of patients and their full-time caregivers. A teenage passenger in a car hit by a big rig while fleeing police has died. According to Hospital Director Fadel Naim, the tragic event was due to hypoxia and extreme cold. This loss serves as a tragic reminder of the daily threats patients and staff encounter during this daily violence.
Dr. Mohammed Abu Naser, a patient who was in the hospital at the time of the strike, described his terrifying ordeal. He expressed deep concern over the lack of medical treatment available, stating:
“I expected that we would all die inside the hospital… I have no treatment or anything right now. We have no option but to travel abroad for treatment.” – Mohammed Abu Naser
The tragic bombing of Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital received only a 20-minute warning prior to the strike. This often left staff with just minutes to prepare or evacuate patients in a safe manner. As a result, they had to bring some patients out into the streets, as a stopgap measure.
The WHO reported that two missions to Al-Ahli and another hospital, the Indonesian Hospital, had been denied access by Israeli authorities. This limitation adds to an already dire healthcare crisis in Gaza, where medical supplies are running out.
Despite further mounting international condemnation, the Israeli military has continued to double down on the intent of its operations in Gaza. An official statement declared,
“We will attack with extreme force every area from which rockets are launched.” – Israeli military
As the conflict continues, Defense Minister Israel Katz emphasized that military actions aim to apply “heavy pressure on Hamas” in hopes of facilitating negotiations for the release of hostages. He also suggested that if Hamas continued to avoid cooperating, Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) operations would be stepped up.
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has been compounded by the ongoing conflict. Samer Attar, a local resident, described the emotional and physical toll on the community:
“The people here are exhausted, they’re hungry, they’re tired, they’re wounded, not just physically but also psychically.” – Samer Attar
As families are still reeling from tension and fear, we know that contempt is still on the rise. Yael and Adi, parents of a child named Alexander, explained their anguish over their son’s diagnosis. They shared their desperation:
“Each moment grows more unbearable. You can see it in his face – his fear, his desperation.” – Yael and Adi
International attention should be laser-focused on Gaza’s collapsing health infrastructure. There’s a huge need for humanitarian assistance to meet the dire and worsening needs in the region. Facilities such as Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital are under tremendous duress. These challenges are indicative of the wider effects of the ongoing war on civilian daily life and health care access.
