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The Israeli military has admitted to launching an airstrike on the al-Ahli Baptist Hospital in Gaza City, claiming the site was being used by Hamas as a command and control centre.
The strike, which took place in the early hours of Sunday, devastated the central Gaza hospital, destroying the main reception building and igniting fires that swept through several departments, including emergency services, laboratories, and the pharmacy. The attack rendered the hospital completely inoperative.
In a statement, the Israeli army alleged that it targeted a Hamas command centre located within the hospital, which had been serving as a critical healthcare facility for over a million Palestinians across Gaza and the northern governorates.
According to reports, two missiles hit the hospital’s main building; eyewitnesses stated that the Israeli army had issued threats to bomb the hospital. These warnings prompted patients and staff to evacuate into the surrounding streets despite harsh winter conditions.
Medical staff confirmed the facility can no longer accept casualties from the continued Israeli bombardment across Gaza. During the evacuation, a young girl succumbed to her injuries, while many others in critical condition remain without access to urgent care due to the hospital’s closure.
The hospital had previously been struck in one of the deadliest incidents of the current conflict, when an Israeli attack on October 17, 2023 killed at least 471 people, including displaced civilians, patients, and healthcare workers.
Since the war began on 7 October 2023, over 50,900 Palestinians—predominantly women and children—have been killed in the ongoing Israeli military campaign, according to Palestinian health officials.
Israel is currently facing international legal proceedings for its actions in Gaza. In November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Simultaneously, the International Court of Justice is considering a genocide case brought against Israel concerning its military operations in the enclave.
