On April 13, 2025, the Al-Ahli Hospital in northern Gaza was struck by an Israeli airstrike, resulting in the death of at least 21 individuals, including children. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that a child died due to the disruption of care following the attack. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that the hospital’s emergency room, laboratory, X-ray machines, and pharmacy were severely damaged, rendering the facility out of service .
The Israeli military claimed the hospital was being used as a Hamas command center, a claim denied by Hamas. The hospital, operated by the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem, was the only fully operational hospital in Gaza City at the time. The attack forced an evacuation, during which the child died. UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy condemned the strike as “deplorable” and emphasized the need for diplomacy to achieve lasting peace .
This incident is part of a broader pattern of attacks on healthcare facilities in Gaza, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the region. Since the conflict escalated in October 2023, over 50,000 Palestinians have been killed, with a significant proportion being women and children .
