Israeli war in Gaza, after the Oct 07 2023, Hamas attack, has left the Gaza Strip in ruins. Hospitals in Gaza have been frequent casualties of Israel's bombing. According to officials in Gaza, Israel has bombed or destroyed at least 36 hospitals across the Palestinian enclave, since the war began in October 2023.
A report published by the UK’s House of Lords in January, revealed that 16 of Gaza’s 36 hospitals were only partially functional, while 20 hospitals had been rendered completely non-operational, due to Israeli attacks.
As Israel continues to justify the bombings with claims that Hamas fighters were using civilian infrastructure for military purposes. According to the World Health Organization, Prime Minister Netanyahu's regime is conducting a "systematic dismantling of health infrastructure."
Pertinently, the IDF has already flattened homes and other essential infrastructure. Targeting hospitals destroys the last refuge for civilians and makes life impossible in the territory.
Human rights organisations highlighted the frequency and intensity of Israel's attacks as evidence of a systematic campaign. The International Rescue Committee counted over 800 attacks on healthcare services in just the first eight months of the war. The attacks included the bombing of hospitals, assaults on ambulances and health workers, and the obstruction of access to medical care.
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees confirmed that more than 142 of its staff members were killed in same time frame.
Contested figures from Gaza’s Health Ministry pegs fatalities among healthcare workers at 1,057 as of December 2024. However, the current death toll is difficult to access as Israel has blocked independent researchers from entering the war-torn region, but IDF bombings of hospitals are hard to cover up.
The Al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City's Zeitoun neighborhood was attacked four times. It was first bombed on October 14, 2023. By the last attack in April 2025, the hospital’s emergency department was completely destoryed.
Al-Shifa Hospital in northern Rimal has been under constant siege, cutting it off from the rest of Gaza City. Over 15,000 people—patients and displaced civilians—were trapped inside. The hospital was bombed twice by Israeli forces.
The Indonesian Hospital in Bait Lahia is one of the most persistently targeted medical facilities. Its dialysis center, which served thousands of civilians, was destroyed by IDF bombings.
Al-Quds Hospital is Gaza’s second-largest hospital. It ceased operations in November 2023 after relentless Israeli bombardment and siege.
Al-Amal Hospital, the perimeter was bombed by Israeli fighter jets in March 2024. Later, Israeli tanks fired directly at the hospital, forcing an evacuation. On March 26, the Red Crescent confirmed the hospital was completely non-functional.
Other hospitals fully or partially destroyed by Israeli attacks include, Turkish-Palestinian Friendship Hospital, Jordan Field Hospital, Al-Awda Hospital.
As if hospitals were not bad enough, there have been dozens of documented attacks on paramedics and ambulances. The most shocking incident occurred in April this year, when Israeli forces fired unprovoked on clearly marked ambulances that had their emergency lights on.
The attack killed 14 paramedics and aid workers, and the IDF later buried the vehicles along with the victims.
Another particularly disturbing incident involved Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya. The director of Kamal Adwan Hospital was arrested by Israeli forces while performing emergency surgery. Footage of him walking through the rubble of his hospital toward Israeli tanks sparked global outrage.
The targeting of hospitals, ambulances, and emergency responders constitutes a clear violation of the 1949 Geneva Conventions, which protect medical personnel and facilities during conflicts. Despite overwhelming evidence, global powers have failed to hold Israel accountable or protect Gaza’s healthcare system.
