Israeli Airstrike Severely Damages Gaza Hospital, Prompting Emergency Evacuation of Patients

CAIRO, April 13 – In the early hours of Sunday, a pair of Israeli missiles struck Al-Ahli Arab Baptist Hospital in Gaza, severely damaging the facility’s emergency and reception departments. The targeted attack left the hospital incapacitated and forced a chaotic evacuation of patients and staff into the streets in the middle of the night. Health officials confirmed that the facility, a key medical institution supported by the Anglican Church, is now out of service.

Moments before the missiles hit, the hospital received a call from someone claiming to be part of the Israeli security forces. The caller reportedly urged the hospital to evacuate, prompting a hurried and difficult removal of patients. Fortunately, no casualties were reported from the strike itself, though the destruction has added further strain to Gaza’s already overwhelmed healthcare infrastructure.

According to Gaza’s health ministry, hundreds of patients including those critically injured had to be moved under darkness without the benefit of adequate transportation or shelter. Many were left outside the hospital, lying on stretchers or the bare ground, without access to urgent medical attention. “This is a disastrous situation. The patients were already in critical condition, and now they’ve been left vulnerable and without proper care,” stated health ministry spokesperson Khalil Al-Deqran.

Medical Facility Caught in the Crossfire

The Israeli military stated that the hospital compound was being used by Hamas operatives to organize and plan attacks, making it a legitimate target. However, the army claimed it took measures to reduce civilian harm before launching the airstrikes, including issuing the evacuation warning. The Israeli statement did not elaborate on the specific intelligence that led to the strike, but emphasized that enemy fighters were allegedly using the hospital under the cover of civilians.

The Baptist Church in Jerusalem condemned the strike in strong terms, confirming that their medical facility had received only a 20-minute warning before the two-story Genetic Laboratory was obliterated. The Pharmacy and Emergency Department buildings were also severely damaged, alongside parts of the church located on the compound. “We urgently appeal to all governments, international bodies, and individuals of conscience to step in and put an end to the attacks on medical and humanitarian institutions,” read a statement from the Church.

Footage from the aftermath showed crumbled walls, broken glass, and wounded patients unable to move, some still lying in beds outside the ruins. “The scene was terrifying,” said Mohammed Abu Nasser, who was injured and present during the strike. “We stayed up all night in fear. Glass was flying everywhere around us.”

The Palestinian foreign ministry and local authorities condemned the strike, labeling it as part of a broader attempt to dismantle Gaza’s healthcare system during wartime. Health experts in the area warned that repeated assaults on hospitals and clinics could collapse what remains of the region’s medical support.

Broader Impact of Continued Airstrikes

The hospital attack came as regional diplomacy was in full swing, with Hamas leaders in Cairo negotiating through mediators from Egypt, Qatar, and the United States in hopes of securing a ceasefire agreement. The timing of the hospital strike raised questions about the prospects of those talks moving forward.

Beyond the hospital incident, Sunday was marked by several other deadly strikes across the Gaza Strip. In Khan Younis, the southern part of the enclave, at least 14 people were reported killed, including a local police chief. In another tragic event, six brothers were killed when their vehicle was struck in Deir Al-Balah, a central Gaza city, according to medical personnel on the ground.

These developments come in the wake of a war that erupted on October 7, 2023, when a large-scale attack was carried out in southern Israel. The incursion resulted in 1,200 Israeli deaths and 251 abductions, sparking a months-long military campaign that has devastated Gaza. Since the beginning of the conflict, local health authorities estimate that over 50,000 Palestinians have been killed, with thousands more injured or missing. Entire neighborhoods lie in rubble, and more than 80% of the population has been displaced, living in makeshift shelters or in overcrowded refugee camps.

Israel maintains that its operations are focused on dismantling militant infrastructure and ensuring national security. However, the toll on civilians—especially on medical institutions and aid organizations—continues to draw international concern. While the Israeli military asserts that militant groups use civilian facilities such as hospitals for cover, humanitarian organizations argue that such claims must be approached with caution and verified independently before justifying military actions that could endanger innocent lives.

With the destruction of Al-Ahli Arab Baptist Hospital, Gaza has lost yet another critical lifeline amid an already collapsing health system. The attack has once again underscored the immense human cost of the ongoing conflict and the increasingly dire need for a resolution that places civilian protection at the forefront.