Despite growing needs for health facilities in Gaza, many local hospitals are non-functioning due to continued military attacks
Since the Hamas-led attack on Gaza on Oct. 7, 2023, more than 18,600 people died, and many have been injured. This includes not only local citizens but also soldiers and foreign nationals. Despite the dire need for medical help, damage to hospitals, healthcare facilities and ambulances in Gaza has many civilians unprotected.
Just like other buildings, multiple hospitals in Gaza have been directly struck by military weapons like bombs. On Nov. 10, for example, al-Shifa hospital was hit three times with a projectile launched by Hamas. In addition, some of its fragments included a tank shell, which allowed it to continue its attack after hitting the initial target. Videos of the attack on the media depicted damages on the wall, ceiling and roof, and civilians had to go into deeper grounds of the complex in search of shelter.
On the same day, another attack took place in the al-Rantisi pediatric hospital, which was surrounded by several tanks in the street. Civilians were locked in the building without supplies like electricity, oxygen for patients, medicine and water.
Similar disasters have occurred in other hospitals, including the Indonesian hospital, al-Quds Hospital, Turkish-Palestinian Friendship Hospital, Psychiatric Hospital, al-Nasr Children’s Hospital, al-Awda Hospital and International Eye Hospital. Only two of 36 hospitals in Gaza are still functioning, partially.