According to Gaza Strip’s health ministry, there are reports of hundreds of individuals trapped under the debris of al-Ahli Arabi Hospital after Israeli airstrikes on Tuesday resulted in the loss of up to 700 lives. Thousands of civilians had sought refuge and medical care at the hospital to escape relentless Israeli airstrikes when the tragic incident occurred.
This attack is marked as the deadliest Israeli airstrike since 2008, as stated by the Palestinian Civil Defense.
Spokesman Mahmoud Basal expressed, “The massacre at al-Ahli Arabi Hospital is unparalleled in our history. While we’ve witnessed tragic events in past conflicts, what occurred that night can be likened to genocide.”
Hamas’ media office labeled the attack a “war crime,” emphasizing that the hospital was sheltering hundreds of the sick and wounded, along with people forcibly displaced due to earlier strikes.
The Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) denounced the Israeli attack as an act of genocide.
In response to the Israeli air strike, Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas declared three days of mourning.
Disturbing photos from al-Ahli Hospital depicted flames engulfing the hospital corridors, shattered glass, and scattered body parts in the vicinity.
This incident has unfolded as the humanitarian situation in Gaza deteriorates rapidly, with hospitals on the brink of collapse.
The head of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, issued a warning, stating that the situation in Gaza is spiraling out of control and emphasizing the urgent need for immediate access to deliver life-saving supplies.
Furthermore, several countries, including Iran, Turkey, Qatar, Egypt, and Jordan, have condemned the Israeli airstrike on the hospital, with Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson denouncing it as a brutal act of war crime and genocide.
Against the backdrop of Israeli bombardments since October 7, several hospitals in Gaza City have become sanctuaries for Palestinians seeking safety.