A predawn Israeli strike on al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza Metropolis, the final main hospital offering vital healthcare in northern Gaza, has sparked condemnation in Palestine and internationally as Israel continues to assault healthcare amenities.
Israel on Sunday claimed it struck a Hamas command and management centre on the hospital, with out offering proof, whereas Hamas denied the allegations.
The Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem, which runs al-Ahli Hospital, condemned the assault, saying it occurred on “Palm Sunday, the beginning of the Holy Week, essentially the most sacred week of the Christian yr.”
It stated the dual strikes demolished the hospital’s two-storey genetic laboratory and broken the pharmacy and the emergency division buildings.
The Larger Presidential Committee for Church Affairs in Palestine, which is affiliated with the Anglican Church, stated the assault constituted “a grave violation of spiritual sanctity and elementary rules of worldwide humanitarian regulation”.
The pinnacle of the committee, Ramzi Khoury, asserted that the assault was a direct affront to Palestinian Christians and the worldwide Christian group.
Britain’s Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell stated in an announcement on Sunday: “The Anglican-run Ahli Hospital in Gaza is a spot of therapeutic and take care of Palestinians residing by means of unimaginable struggling. In insufferable situations, its heroic medical doctors and nurses have cared for civilians who’ve endured 18 months of devastating violence”.
“For the one Christian hospital in Gaza to be attacked on Palm Sunday is very appalling. I share within the grief of our Palestinian brothers and sisters within the Diocese of Jerusalem,” he stated.
Gaza’s Well being Ministry stated the bombing compelled the evacuation of sufferers and employees. “We name on worldwide establishments and related authorities to guard the well being sector in accordance with worldwide legal guidelines and agreements,” it stated in an announcement.
The Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) stated the “heinous aggression” was “a part of a scientific collection of assaults concentrating on hospitals, faculties, shelters and tents for the displaced in Gaza, throughout the context of a scientific struggle of extermination that violates all humanitarian and ethical requirements”.
PIJ blamed Israel for sowing panic amongst sufferers and employees by issuing a warning shortly earlier than the strike. “The worldwide silence on Gaza is forcing it to grow to be a graveyard for regulation and humanity,” it added.
Worldwide condemnation: ‘Assaults on well being care should cease’
Hospitals have particular safety below worldwide regulation. Israel has besieged and raided them nonetheless, some a number of instances, and struck a number of ones whereas accusing Hamas of utilizing them as cowl for its fighters. Final month, Israel struck Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, the most important hospital in southern Gaza, killing two individuals and inflicting a big fireplace.
Director-Basic of the World Well being Group (WHO) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated the hospital was out of service and a baby had died on account of the disruption of care.
The hospital was additionally compelled to maneuver 50 sufferers to different well being centres, however 40 vital sufferers couldn’t be moved, Tedros added.
“Assaults on well being care should cease,” the WHO chief wrote on X. “As soon as once more we repeat: sufferers, well being employees and hospitals should be protected. The help blockade should be lifted. Ceasefire.”
Al-Ahli hospital in #Gaza is out of service following this morning’s evacuation order and assault – @WHO has obtained an replace from the hospital’s director. A toddler died on account of disruption of care.
The emergency room, laboratory, emergency room X-ray machines and the pharmacy…
— Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) April 13, 2025
British Overseas Minister David Lammy stated Israel’s bombing of medical amenities had “comprehensively degraded entry to healthcare” within the enclave.
“Al-Ahli Hospital has been attacked repeatedly for the reason that battle started. These deplorable assaults should finish. Diplomacy no more bloodshed is how we are going to obtain an enduring peace,” Lammy wrote on X.
Qatar stated the assault on the final functioning hospital in northern Gaza was a “horrific bloodbath and a heinous crime in opposition to civilians” that constituted a grave violation of worldwide humanitarian regulation.
The Overseas Ministry warned concerning the enlargement of the cycle of violence throughout the area and stated the worldwide group should assume its duties in defending civilians.
Jordan additionally condemned the assault in addition to Israel’s systematic concentrating on of civilians in Gaza and the destruction of significant amenities that present important companies to its inhabitants.
Egypt, too, issued an announcement, calling the assault a grave violation of worldwide humanitarian regulation and worldwide norms and interesting for the worldwide group’s intervention in halting the assaults.
German Overseas Minister Annalena Baerbock questioned the modalities of the strike however stopped in need of condemning the assault. “The merciless Hamas terror should be combated. However worldwide humanitarian regulation applies, with a particular obligation to guard civilian areas. How can a hospital be evacuated in lower than 20 minutes?” she requested in a put up on X.