GAZA STRIP: One of the last remaining hospitals in the northern Gaza Strip stopped operating on Tuesday after being stormed by the Israeli army, its director said.

Fadel Naim told AFP Israeli troops had attacked the Al-Ahli hospital and arrested doctors, medical staff and patients, destroying part of the building’s grounds.

Israel’s attack has “put the hospital out of action”, he said. “We can’t receive any patients or injured.” At least four people who were wounded by Israeli fire on Monday died on Tuesday after being injured in the Al-Ahli assault, he said.

“According to our information, there are dozens of wounded in the surrounding streets,” he said.

Al-Ahli, also known as the Baptist or Ahli Arab hospital, was already heavily damaged by an explosion in its car park on October 17, resulting in at least dozens of deaths.

Furious Unicef spokesperson slams children’s deaths in strikes on hospitals

Militant groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad accuse Israel, which denies responsibility and blames a misfired rocket by Islamic Jihad for that blast.

Hospitals, protected under international humanitarian law, have repeatedly been hit by Israeli strikes in the Gaza Strip since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas on October 7.

Israeli troops have previously raided other medical facilities in Gaza, including Al-Shifa, the territory’s largest hospital, which is now functioning at minimal capacity with a very small team.

On Sunday, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said the Al-Ahli hospital was receiving ‘critical patients’ from Al-Shifa for surgery.

The Al-Shifa emergency department, devastated by Israeli bombardments, is ‘a blood bath’ and ‘in need of resuscitation’, the WHO said.

Israel is facing mounting international pressure over the rising civilian death toll and destruction of hospitals in Gaza.

The deadliest ever war in the narrow territory began after Hamas poured across the border and launched a attack. Some 250 people were abducted by militants during the attack and taken to the Gaza Strip.

At least 19,667 people, mostly women and children, have been killed due to Israeli aggression, according to the Gaza health ministry

‘Mere statistics’

Gaza is “the most dangerous place in the world” for a child, the UN children’s agency spokesperson said Tuesday, expr­ess­ing his rage at the situation there after returning from the Palestinian territory. “I’m furious that those with power shrug at the humanitarian nightmares unlea­shed on a million children,” Unicef spokesperson James Elder told a press briefing after spending nearly two weeks in Gaza.

He mentioned children who underwent amputations, only to be ‘killed in those hospitals’ amid the ongoing Israeli army bombardment of the Gaza Strip since October 7.

“I’m furious that there are more children hiding as we speak who will no doubt be hit and have amputations in the coming days,” he said.

He said the Nasser hospital in southern Gaza’s main city Khan Yunis — the largest facility still functioning — ‘was shelled twice’ in the last 48 hours.

“[This hospital] not only shelters large numbers of children who had already been badly injured in attacks on their homes, but hundreds of women and children seeking safety,” he said.

Gaza health ministry said Israeli aggression has killed at least 19,667 people, mostly women and children, while devastating large swathes of the coastal territory.

“I’m furious that Christmas is likely going to bring increased savagery and attacks as the world is distracted with its own love and goodwill,” Elder said, deploring the deaths of thousands of children in Gaza who are “becoming statistics”.

“I’m furious that hypocrisy is crushing empathy,” he said of the situation, adding, “I’m furious at myself for not being able to do more.”

Published in Dawn, December 20th, 2023