Washington, D.C. – An Israeli airstrike on Gaza City’s last functioning hospital on Palm Sunday has left at least 21 people dead, including children, and rendered the facility inoperative. The attack drew immediate condemnation from Palestinian authorities and humanitarian organizations, who called it a violation of international humanitarian law.
Al-Ahli Hospital, located in northern Gaza, was struck multiple times in a pre-dawn operation. According to medical personnel, vital infrastructure including the emergency ward, pharmacy, and adjacent buildings suffered severe damage. Over 100 patients and staff were affected, and one young girl reportedly died during a rushed evacuation that was given only 20 minutes’ notice.
Dr. Fadel Naim, the hospital’s director, confirmed that the hospital is now out of service. He described the attack as devastating, with patients forced to lie in the open after buildings collapsed.
The Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem, which operates the hospital, issued a statement denouncing the attack for occurring on Palm Sunday, a holy day in the Christian calendar. Palestinian Christian leaders also condemned the strike, calling it a severe breach of religious and humanitarian norms.
International reaction was swift. Jordan’s foreign ministry described the strike as a “blatant breach” of legal standards, while others expressed alarm at what they termed a deliberate pattern of targeting medical infrastructure.
Israeli officials have defended similar strikes by claiming that militant groups use hospitals and civilian facilities as operational cover — an allegation that remains unverified in this instance. Under international law, hospitals are granted special protection in times of conflict unless used for military purposes.
This is the sixth reported strike on Al-Ahli Hospital since the onset of hostilities. Meanwhile, patients have been transferred to other medical facilities in Gaza, although many are already overwhelmed or damaged themselves.
Hours after the hospital attack, another airstrike hit a vehicle in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza, killing at least seven people — including six siblings aged between 10 and their mid-20s. Their father, Ibrahim Abu Mahadi, said they were working for a nonprofit food relief group and questioned why they were targeted.
Later, an airstrike on a home in the Jabaliya refugee camp in northern Gaza killed at least seven more people, including two women. A pregnant woman was rescued from the rubble, but several family members, including her husband, mother, and young daughter, did not survive. With the main hospital equipment destroyed, full medical evaluations were not possible.
Residents and neighbors expressed despair, emphasizing that the targeted areas had no militant activity. “There are no fighters here, only families,” said one witness.
Additional casualties were reported from strikes in Khan Younis and at a municipal building in Deir al-Balah. Medical teams say that the combined toll from recent attacks continues to rise.
So far, the conflict has reportedly led to the deaths of over 50,000 Palestinians, with a large proportion being women and children. Aid organizations, journalists, and medical workers have also been among the casualties. Human rights groups continue to call for an immediate ceasefire and international accountability.
