Gaza's Last Standing Hospital Hit

The escalating conflict in Gaza took a grim turn when an Israeli air strike hit the last fully operational hospital in Gaza City. The Anglican church in Jerusalem, which manages the Al-Ahli Baptist hospital, reported that a young boy died during the hasty evacuation of patients. The hospital received only 20 minutes notice before the strike, forcing staff to move patients outside. Critical areas of the hospital, including the emergency room and reception, were heavily damaged. The strike also affected the neighboring St Philip’s church. The Israeli Defense Forces claimed they targeted a Hamas command center, but Hamas denied using the hospital for military purposes. The Israeli military is pushing deeper into Gaza, creating a buffer zone and displacing hundreds of thousands of civilians. In the south, the military seized the Morag corridor, isolating Rafah from the rest of Gaza. The main goal of these operations is to pressure Hamas into releasing hostages. Over the past few weeks, around 400, 000 people have been ordered to relocate, with hospitals often serving as shelters. A patient at the Al-Ahli Baptist hospital, Mohammed Abu Naser, described the fear and uncertainty during the strike. The Palestinian Ministry of Health temporarily closed the hospital and redirected patients to other facilities. The Jerusalem diocese condemned the strike, noting it was the fifth time the hospital had been hit since October 2023. The World Health Organization reported that the hospital’s pharmacy was destroyed and 50 patients had to be moved. The WHO also mentioned that access to health facilities in Gaza is shrinking, making it hard to resupply and treat patients. The Israeli military is conducting operations in various areas of Gaza, targeting what it claims are Hamas control centers. The conflict has left many civilians exhausted, hungry, and wounded, both physically and mentally. The Al-Ahli hospital, one of the few functioning hospitals in Gaza, treats up to 1, 000 patients daily. The Israeli military has intercepted rockets fired from Gaza and issued evacuation orders for several areas.