CAIRO: On Sunday, April 13, two missiles launched by Israeli forces struck a building within the Al-Ahli Arab Baptist Hospital, a major medical facility located in Gaza. The attack caused significant destruction, particularly to the emergency and reception departments, and resulted in damage to several other sections of the hospital, according to reports from local medics.

The timing of the assault raised alarms among health officials at the hospital who promptly evacuated patients from the affected building. This preemptive action followed a concerning phone call received by a hospital official from an individual claiming to represent Israeli security just moments before the missiles struck. This call has led many to question the motives behind the attack and the safety protocols in place for medical facilities during such intense conflicts.

Despite the aggressive strike, which left no immediate casualties reported, the Israeli military has yet to comment on this incident. However, the aftermath has left many residents and families displaced, as evidenced by images circulating on social media platforms. These images, which Reuters was unable to authenticate immediately, depict scenes of chaos with numerous families fleeing the hospital, some seen dragging sick relatives on hospital beds in a desperate bid for safety.

The government media office run by Hamas condemned the missile strike, labeling it a heinous and filthy crime. The statement claimed that Israel has deliberately targeted healthcare facilities, asserting that a systematic plan is underway to dismantle what remains of the Gaza Strip's healthcare system. The hospital attacks have been particularly alarming, as they violate international humanitarian law, which protects medical facilities during armed conflicts.

Since the onset of the current war between Israel and Hamas, which erupted on October 7, 2023, numerous hospitals in the Gaza Strip have been struck by Israeli fire. Earlier in October, an attack on the Al-Ahli Arab Baptist Hospital resulted in hundreds of fatalities. Palestinian authorities accused Israeli forces of carrying out the airstrike responsible for the explosion, while Israel contended that the blast was a result of a failed rocket launch by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad militant group, a claim which the group denies.

The Israeli military has justified its military operations by asserting that Hamas has constructed tunnels beneath hospitals and is utilizing these medical facilities as command centers for operations against Israeli forces. This claim has been refuted by Palestinian militants, fueling further tensions in the already volatile situation.

On March 28, 2023, the World Health Organization reported that only 22 of Gaza's 36 hospitals remained partially functional amidst the ongoing conflict. This underscores the dire state of healthcare in the region, which is being exacerbated by continuous violence.

In a grim update, Gazas health ministry reported that at least 1,563 Palestinians had died since March 18, when a temporary ceasefire collapsed. This brings the overall death toll from the current conflict to a staggering 50,933 since its commencement, highlighting the severe humanitarian crisis unfolding in the area.