An Israeli military strike on a hospital in the Gaza Strip killed at least six people, including a doctor and a child, and injured more than two dozen others, Gaza's Health Ministry said on Friday. The attack caused severe structural damage to patient wards, emergency corridors, and vital medical equipment, forcing overwhelmed hospital staff to evacuate critically ill patients amid shattered concrete and twisted ceiling frames.
Strike Hits Active Medical Ward
According to hospital administrators and emergency responders at the scene, the strike hit the upper floors and adjacent treatment wing of the facility without prior evacuation warning. Footage and photographs from inside the hospital showed collapsed ceiling panels, overturned hospital beds, and medical personnel sifting through rubble to rescue trapped patients and colleagues. Health Ministry officials confirmed that a practicing physician who had been on shift for more than 36 consecutive hours and a young child receiving treatment were among the six fatalities.
Gaza Health System Under Severe Strain
The Health Ministry warned that the strike further cripples an already collapsing healthcare infrastructure across the enclave, where fuel shortages, damaged generators, and depleted surgical supplies have pushed remaining hospitals to the brink. Doctors Without Borders and local medical directors noted that fewer than half of Gaza's pre-war medical facilities remain even partially operational, leaving tens of thousands of displaced civilians without reliable emergency trauma care.
Israeli Military Cites Militant Activity
In a statement following the incident, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it was reviewing the reports and maintained that its operations target armed militants operating near civilian infrastructure. Israeli officials have repeatedly accused Hamas of embedding fighters and command posts within or adjacent to hospitals—allegations that hospital directors and international medical organizations strongly deny or say do not justify strikes that endanger patients and healthcare workers.
International Law and Humanitarian Outcry
United Nations agencies and international humanitarian organizations swiftly condemned the strike, reiterating that hospitals, medical personnel, and patients are explicitly protected under international humanitarian law. World Health Organization (WHO) representatives called for immediate, independent investigations into attacks on healthcare facilities and urged all parties to establish safe humanitarian corridors for medical evacuations and emergency aid deliveries.
Calls for Accountability and Ceasefire Talks
Diplomatic officials in Washington, European capitals, and regional mediators expressed alarm over the civilian toll, warning that strikes on medical centers risk further complicating ongoing ceasefire negotiations. As rescue teams continued clearing debris from the damaged wards on Friday, grieving families and medical colleagues gathered outside the facility to mourn the victims and demand stronger international protections for Gaza's remaining hospitals.
