DaysofPal- Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has condemned the Israeli airstrike on Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza City, describing the attack as a “public execution of patients.”
The strike, which occurred at dawn on Sunday, targeted one of the hospital’s main buildings, killing a child, destroying vital medical facilities, and rendering the hospital inoperable.
This latest assault underscores the ongoing disregard for civilian lives amid the Israeli genocidal war on the Gaza Strip, now entering its 17th month.
A “Death Sentence” for Patients
Inas Abu Al-Khalaf, head of MSF’s regional media office, described the attack as a “public death sentence for patients,” emphasizing that it reflects an egregious violation of international humanitarian law.
In press statements issued on Monday, she stated, “What happened inside the hospital reflects the extent of disregard for civilian lives. This bombing was unjustified and constitutes a flagrant violation of the principles that protect medical facilities during armed conflicts.”
The targeted building housed critical departments, including the reception area, emergency room, laboratory, and pharmacy—services essential for treating the wounded and sick. Dozens of patients were forced to flee their beds, seeking refuge in the streets surrounding the hospital after the attack left them without shelter or care.
Repeated Attacks on Health Facilities
This is not the first time Al-Ma’amoudiya Hospital—or other medical facilities in Gaza—has been targeted by Israeli occupation forces. The hospital, also known as the Al-Ahli Arab Baptist Hospital, was previously attacked in October 2023 in what became known as the “Baptist Massacre.” That attack killed nearly 500 people, most of them children, displaced women, and patients seeking refuge within its walls.
MSF warned that repeated attacks on health facilities are exacerbating the already dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza. With each strike, thousands of patients are left without access to life-saving treatment, while doctors and medical staff face insurmountable challenges in providing even basic care.
Humanitarian Crisis Deepens
The destruction of Al-Ahli Hospital has further crippled Gaza’s healthcare system, which was already on the brink of collapse due to months of bombardment, blockade, and shortages of fuel, medicine, and supplies. Doctors Without Borders emphasized that such attacks threaten the lives of countless patients who rely on these facilities for survival.
Dozens of wounded individuals, many in critical condition, were seen sleeping on the streets surrounding the hospital after being forced to evacuate. Without access to proper medical attention, their chances of survival diminish with each passing hour.
MSF and other humanitarian organizations have repeatedly called for accountability for Israeli targeting of medical infrastructure. Under international law, hospitals and medical personnel are protected entities during armed conflicts, and deliberate attacks on them constitute war crimes.
Despite mounting evidence of atrocities, however, global powers have largely shielded Israeli occupation from scrutiny, enabling continued violations. Human rights advocates argue that this impunity only emboldens further aggression against civilians and essential services.
A Stark Warning
The attack on Al-Ahli Hospital serves as a grim reminder of the devastating consequences of the Israeli genocidal war on Gaza. As hospitals are reduced to rubble and patients are left to die in the streets, the international community faces mounting pressure to intervene decisively.
Unless immediate action is taken to protect civilians, ensure the unhindered delivery of aid, and hold perpetrators accountable, the suffering of Gaza’s people will persist. For now, the cries of patients and medical workers remain unanswered—a testament to the catastrophic cost of silence and inaction.
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