Al-Aqsa Hospital Hit Again: Israeli Airstrike Ignites Fire, Engulfing Tents and Leaving Dozens Dead and Injured

An Israeli airstrike on the tents for displaced Palestinians at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir el-Balah, central Gaza, has once again spotlighted the ongoing devastation caused by the conflict. The attack, which occurred in the early hours of Monday, killed at least four people and left 70 injured, many in critical condition. The victims, most of whom were displaced by the relentless Israeli bombardment, were sheltering in tents set up on the hospital grounds.

This marks the seventh time this year that the hospital has been hit, further escalating concerns about the targeting of civilian and medical facilities in Gaza. Videos from the scene show the chaos, with rescuers struggling to contain a major fire that broke out due to the airstrike. As Gaza’s humanitarian crisis deepens, Israel continues its military operations, claiming its attacks target Hamas infrastructure. However, the impact on civilians has been catastrophic, with tens of thousands of casualties and large-scale destruction across the region.

Key Points of the Incident

• Israeli Airstrike: Hit tents sheltering displaced Palestinians at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir el-Balah, central Gaza.
• Casualties: At least 4 people were killed and 70 were injured, with many suffering severe burns and critical injuries.
• Rescue Efforts: Videos show rescuers struggling to manage a massive fire that erupted due to the airstrike. The death toll is expected to rise as more bodies are recovered from the wreckage.

Eyewitness Accounts and Survivor Statements

• Eyewitness Testimony: Om Ahmad Radi, a survivor, said: “We woke up to smoke, flames, fire, and burning pieces falling on the tents from every direction.” She described the terror of the night, adding that the explosions were massive, and there were burned bodies all around.
• Rescue Obstacles: Fire trucks were unable to access the site promptly, leading to an overwhelming number of charred bodies and increasing casualties. “There were so many burned and charred bodies all over the place,” she said.

Targeting Medical Facilities

• Repeated Strikes on Al-Aqsa Hospital: This was the seventh time in 2024 that Al-Aqsa Hospital grounds have been hit, and the third strike in the past few weeks alone.
• Damage to Shelter Tents: About 20-30 tents were completely destroyed, leaving many victims trapped inside. Survivors stated that the tents were too close together, making it difficult to escape the fire.

Israeli Military’s Response

• Military Justification: Israeli army spokesperson Avichay Adraee confirmed the airstrike and claimed, without evidence, that the hospital was being used as a “command and control center” by Hamas to conduct attacks on Israel.
• Broader Impact on Gaza’s Health Sector: The airstrike is part of a pattern of attacks on medical facilities in Gaza, where the healthcare system is already overwhelmed and in dire condition due to continued strikes.

Impact on Civilians and Refugees

• Displacement: The Israeli offensive has displaced 90% of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents, many of whom have been displaced multiple times during the conflict.
• Northern Gaza Siege: Israeli air and ground forces have laid siege to Jabalia in northern Gaza, claiming Hamas fighters are regrouping there. This is part of a wider effort to evacuate northern Gaza, despite the fact that 400,000 Palestinians remain trapped in the region.

Other Attacks in Gaza

• School Shelled in Nuseirat: On Sunday, Israeli tanks shelled a school sheltering displaced people in Nuseirat, central Gaza, killing 22 Palestinians and injuring 80 others.
• Food and Medical Shortages: The UN reported that no food has entered northern Gaza since October 1, worsening the humanitarian crisis for those trapped in the area.

Ongoing Humanitarian Crisis

• Bodies Uncollected: Fares Abu Hamza, an official from Gaza’s Health Ministry, reported that many bodies remain uncollected in northern Gaza due to the ongoing fighting. He also mentioned that dogs were seen eating some remains because rescuers could not reach the bodies.
• Total Casualties: Since the start of the conflict, more than 42,200 people have been killed, mostly women and children, and about 98,400 others have been injured, according to local health authorities.

Source: Al Jazeera