On Sunday, April 13, 2025, an Israeli airstrike targeted Al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City, the last fully operational hospital in the area, causing significant damage and forcing its closure. The strike destroyed the hospital’s surgical building and oxygen station, rendering the facility completely non-operational.
Operated by the Anglican Diocese of Jerusalem since 1882, Al-Ahli Hospital had become a critical healthcare provider for Gaza’s population amid widespread destruction of medical infrastructure. The hospital was serving over 100 patients at the time of the attack. During the evacuation, at least one child reportedly died.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that the hospital was being used by Hamas as a command center, an allegation that Hamas has denied. The Anglican Church condemned the strike and urged governments to safeguard medical institutions.
The attack has drawn international condemnation. UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy described the strikes on Gaza’s hospitals as “deplorable” and emphasized the need for diplomacy to achieve lasting peace.
The destruction of Al-Ahli Hospital exacerbates the already dire humanitarian situation in Gaza. According to the World Health Organization, only 21 out of 36 hospitals in the Gaza Strip are partially functioning, with none fully operational. The ongoing conflict has resulted in over 50,000 Palestinian deaths since October 2023, most of them women and children.
As the conflict continues, the loss of Al-Ahli Hospital represents a significant blow to Gaza’s healthcare system, leaving the population with even fewer options for medical care.
