Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza city carried out a missile attack by the Israeli army on Sunday morning, killing at least 21 people, including seven children. This attack is another major setback for the already crumbling health system of Gaza. According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, the Emergency Unit, Department of Surgery and Oxygen stations have been completely destroyed, which is unable to work now.
Israeli army claims, Hamas denied
The Israeli army says that the attack was targeted by targeting an alleged Hamas-end-control center in the hospital premises. On the other hand, Hamas dismissed these allegations outright, calling it a “conspiracy to ruin the health system” and demanded an international inquiry.
According to eyewitnesses, an attempt was made to take out the patients and staff before the attack, but a child lost his life in chaos, as he could not get treatment on time.
Background: Struggle continues from October 2023
The attack is part of the long struggle that began on 7 October 2023 after Hamas attack on Israel. Since then, more than 50,000 people have died in Israeli military operations in Gaza, most of which are citizens.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), only 21 hospitals of Gaza are working partially, and the situation is continuously deteriorating due to the huge shortage of drugs.
International response and deepening crisis
The international community has strongly condemned the attack. Britain’s Foreign Secretary David Lammy described it as “condemnable”, while Egypt and Qatar called it a move to deepen the humanitarian crisis.
Hospitals, schools and other public places in Gaza are no longer considered safe, which has further increased the atmosphere of fear and insecurity among the citizens. Experts believe that if the supply of immediate ceasefire and human assistance is not ensured, the crisis can be even more frightening. Despite international pressure, there has been no concrete progress towards peace so far.
