Israeli Missiles Hit Gaza Hospital, Prompting Evacuation; No Casualties Reported

On April 13, 2025, two Israeli missiles hit the Al-Ahli Arab Baptist Hospital in Gaza City, damaging its emergency and reception areas. The attack followed a warning allegedly from Israeli security, prompting evacuation of patients and staff. No casualties were reported, according to Gaza’s civil emergency services. The incident has raised concerns about the safety of medical facilities in conflict zones and the strain on Gaza’s healthcare system. The Hamas-run government condemned the strike, accusing Israel of targeting healthcare infrastructure, while Israel has not commented on the incident.

Hospital Hit After Warning, Patients Evacuated

The Al-Ahli Arab Baptist Hospital, one of Gaza’s oldest medical institutions operated by the Anglican Episcopal Church in Jerusalem, was targeted in a double missile strike early Sunday. According to medics and health officials, the missiles destroyed the hospital’s emergency and reception departments, rendering them inoperable.

Prior to the strike, hospital staff received a phone call from an individual identifying himself as a member of Israeli security, warning of an imminent attack. This prompted an immediate evacuation of patients and medical personnel from the affected buildings. Images shared on social media, though not independently verified, showed displaced families fleeing the hospital grounds, some dragging patients on beds and stretchers.

Despite the scale of the destruction, no injuries or fatalities were reported. Gaza’s civil emergency services confirmed that all patients and staff were safely evacuated before the missiles struck.

A Site of Past Tragedy

This is not the first time Al-Ahli Hospital has been targeted during the ongoing conflict. On October 17, 2023, the hospital was the site of a deadly explosion that killed hundreds of civilians, including women and children, who had sought refuge in its courtyard. That incident remains a point of contention, with Palestinian officials blaming an Israeli airstrike, while Israel attributed the blast to a misfired rocket from the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group. The group denied responsibility.

The hospital, also known locally as Al-Mamadani, has since become a symbol of the humanitarian toll of the war in Gaza. Sunday’s strike has further deepened fears among civilians and aid organizations about the safety of medical facilities in the enclave.

Widespread Damage to Healthcare Infrastructure

The Hamas-run government media office condemned the latest strike, calling it a “heinous and filthy crime.” Officials accused Israel of systematically targeting Gaza’s healthcare infrastructure, claiming that 34 hospitals have been rendered out of service since the beginning of the conflict.

“This is part of a deliberate plan to dismantle what remains of the healthcare sector in the Gaza Strip,” the media office said in a statement.

The destruction of the emergency and reception departments at Al-Ahli Hospital is expected to further strain Gaza’s overwhelmed medical system, which has been operating under extreme conditions due to ongoing hostilities, shortages of medical supplies, and repeated attacks on healthcare facilities.

No Official Comment from Israel

As of Sunday evening, the Israeli military had not issued a statement regarding the strike on Al-Ahli Hospital. The lack of official comment has drawn criticism from humanitarian organizations and local authorities, who are demanding accountability and assurances for the protection of medical institutions under international law.

The strike comes amid escalating military operations across the Gaza Strip. On the same day, Israeli forces issued new evacuation orders for residents of the Nuseirat refugee camp and parts of Khan Younis, citing intercepted rocket fire from the area. The Israeli government has stated its intention to continue operations with “great force.”

Civilian Impact and International Attention

The attack on Al-Ahli Hospital has once again drawn international attention to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Images of families fleeing the hospital, some carrying children and elderly patients, have circulated widely on social media, prompting renewed calls for the protection of civilians and medical workers.

While no casualties were reported in this latest incident, the psychological and logistical impact on patients and healthcare providers is significant. The destruction of critical hospital infrastructure not only disrupts immediate medical care but also undermines long-term health services in a region already facing severe shortages.

References

• 'Israel' bombs Al-Ahli Baptist hospital in Gaza after threat, patients evacuated
• Tensions Rise as Missiles Hit Gaza Hospital | Law-Order
• Israel bombs Gaza City hospital as doctors scramble to evacuate patients