In a devastating incident, the Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital in the Gaza Strip was struck by Israeli forces, resulting in a reported death toll of at least 500 individuals, according to a statement by the health ministry spokesman in the besieged enclave on Tuesday.
The strike, if verified, would mark the deadliest Israeli airstrike in the region since 2008, spanning five wars. The Israeli military has acknowledged the incident and is currently investigating the claims.
Heart-wrenching images from Al-Ahli Hospital depict flames engulfing the building, shattered glass, and scattered body parts. Amid the ongoing conflict, several hospitals in Gaza City have become makeshift shelters for hundreds of residents seeking refuge from bombardments, following Israel’s evacuation order for the city and surrounding areas to the southern Gaza Strip.
Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, the Israeli military spokesman, stated that there are no specifics on the hospital deaths yet and assured the public of updates once details are obtained. He remarked, “We will get the details and update the public. I don’t know to say whether it was an Israeli air strike.”
In response to the tragic event, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas declared three days of mourning, condemning the airstrike as genocide. The Palestinian Liberation Organization issued a statement calling on the international community to intervene immediately to halt what they referred to as a massacre, stating, “Silence is no longer acceptable.”
Since the outbreak of the conflict on 7 October, approximately 3,000 people have lost their lives in Israeli air strikes across the Gaza Strip. On the Israeli side, over 1,400 individuals have been killed, with the majority falling victim to attacks by Hamas militants who crossed from Gaza to target border communities.
