• Israeli airstrikes have heavily damaged Gaza's al-Ahli Hospital, leading to global condemnation.
• The World Health Organization reports catastrophic conditions in Gaza hospitals due to ongoing attacks.
• A field hospital was struck, leading to casualties among security staff and patients.
• International calls for shielding medical facilities under humanitarian law are growing.
• Hamas denies using hospitals for military purposes amidst accusations from Israel.

On Sunday, an Israeli airstrike targeted the al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza City, marking the fifth strike on the facility since the outbreak of hostilities in 2023. Israeli officials claimed they targeted a Hamas command and control center, a claim that remains uncorroborated while the hospital continued to provide critical care. The attack resulted in the evacuation of patients and destroyed significant medical infrastructure, including the emergency room and laboratory, with awful repercussions for ongoing medical treatment, according to the Anglican Diocese of Jerusalem and the Palestinian Health Ministry, which described the situation as dire due to the urgency created by the strikes, leaving hundreds without care, according to SCMP.

In a wider context, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued a stark warning about the deteriorating conditions of healthcare in Gaza, stating that the situation was becoming "beyond description." WHO officials reported that due to continued strikes, health facilities are critically low on supplies, which has taken a tragic toll on patient care. Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO Director-General, emphasized that hospitals must be spared from attacks as stipulated by international humanitarian law, revealing that al-Ahli is now unable to receive new patients, significantly impacting trauma care across the region, according to BBC.

While the al-Ahli attack garnered international condemnation, a separate strike on the Kuwait Specialty Field Hospital caused significant casualties, including the death of a security guard and injuries to multiple patients. According to Dr. Suhaib al-Hamss, director of the field hospital, the attack was termed "powerful" and led to extensive damage, showcasing how the Israeli military offensive has plagued medical facilities throughout Gaza. Acknowledging the humanitarian crisis, she detailed how the hospital is one of the remaining functioning health infrastructures in southern Gaza, treating thousands of patients daily, as reported by NY Times.

Multiple governments and humanitarian organizations have expressed outrage at these attacks. Qatar labeled the bombing of the al-Ahli Hospital as a "horrific massacre," calling for an immediate international intervention. British officials echoed this sentiment, demanding an end to such military actions against healthcare facilities. The Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem condemned the attack and underscored the need for protection of medical facilities in accordance with humanitarian law, particularly as the conflict has systematically targeted such essential services in Gaza, according to Al Jazeera.

Despite ongoing accusations from Israel that Hamas exploits healthcare facilities for military purposes, the militant group vehemently denies these claims, asserting that the attacks are part of a broader strategy to dismantle civilian medical support systems. The cyclical nature of the violence, compounded by international community silence, raises alarms as the humanitarian situation deteriorates amid the continued military action in Gaza, emphasizing the urgent need for dialogues aimed at establishing a lasting ceasefire, according to SCMP.