At least 12 people lost their lives in a tragic incident as a hospital in northeast Gaza came under heavy bombardment, according to local health officials. The attack marks the latest in a series of devastating incidents affecting medical facilities in the enclave during the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.
The targeted facility, the Indonesian Hospital in the town of Beit Lahia, has yet to receive any official response from the Israeli military. Health officials in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip have reported that approximately 700 patients and 5,000 displaced individuals sought refuge in the hospital before the strikes began.
Munner al-Bursh, the general manager of Gaza’s health ministry, disclosed to Al Jazeera that the hospital was struck by artillery overnight. Al-Bursh alleged that the surgical department was deliberately targeted, resulting in the deaths of 12 civilians and injuries to several doctors. Additionally, he claimed that as individuals attempted to evacuate the hospital, they were met with gunfire from Israeli forces, preventing the collection of the deceased.
Further reports from the Palestinian Wafa news agency on Monday indicated that drones equipped with missiles were involved in the siege, compelling hospital staff to seek shelter on the lower floors due to the intense gunfire on the upper levels.
Israel has asserted that its military operations focus on dismantling “terror infrastructure” and has accused Hamas of using civilians, including hospitals, as human shields. Hamas, however, has denied these allegations. On Sunday, the Israeli military released videos purporting to demonstrate Hamas utilizing Al-Shifa Hospital, Gaza’s largest medical facility, for its operations. Israel had previously besieged and stormed the facility, claiming it housed a Hamas command center.
A parallel situation appears to be unfolding at the Indonesian Hospital, which was established in 2016 with funding from various Indonesian organizations. While the facility is mostly non-functioning, it continues to serve as a shelter for displaced individuals and patients in northern Gaza.
Indonesia’s Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi condemned the attack, stating, “The attack is a clear violation of international humanitarian laws. All countries, especially those with close relations to Israel, must utilize their influence and capabilities to urge Israel to cease its atrocities.”
In addition to the hospital incident, witnesses have reported intense clashes between Israeli forces and Hamas gunmen as they approach the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza. This camp, home to approximately 100,000 residents, is considered a significant Hamas stronghold by Israel. The Israeli military issued an Arabic-language social media post on Sunday, urging camp residents and nearby communities to evacuate south immediately for their safety.
Despite the evacuation order, Israeli strikes persist in the southern regions, continuing since the outbreak of the six-week-old conflict. The situation has led to the displacement of almost three-quarters of Gaza’s population, approximately 1.7 million people, with 900,000 seeking refuge in overcrowded U.N.-operated shelters, as reported by the United Nations.
Gaza’s already strained health system is now in a state of disarray, prompting humanitarian organizations to call for a substantial increase in aid deliveries to the enclave. On Monday, a convoy of dozens of trucks carrying equipment from Jordan entered Gaza through Egypt, with the aim of establishing a field hospital in the southern town of Khan Younis. This town had witnessed a tragic incident over the weekend, with 70 people killed and numerous others injured in strikes, according to Doctors Without Borders.
Additionally, on Monday, at least 28 out of 31 premature babies evacuated from Al-Shifa Hospital were transported out of Gaza into Egypt. The Palestinian Red Crescent Society stated that this evacuation was necessitated by power outages at the hospital and the infants’ consumption of contaminated water and milk, resulting in health complications that required urgent treatment abroad.
The situation in Gaza remains dire, with the humanitarian crisis deepening as the conflict shows no signs of abating. International calls for a cessation of hostilities and efforts to alleviate the suffering of civilians in the region continue to mount.