Israeli tanks shell Al-Awda Hospital in Gaza

Al-Awda Hospital, one of the last remaining operational medical facilities in northern Gaza, was struck by Israeli tank fire overnight, igniting fires and causing significant structural damage, according to hospital officials.

The story, as reported by Africa News, highlights the intensifying toll on Gaza’s civilian infrastructure as fighting escalates in the enclave.

The attack targeted the facility’s third floor and storage areas for fuel and medical supplies, using tanks, drones, and quadcopters, said Dr. Mohamed Salha, the hospital’s acting director. He described the night as one of “horror,” as medical staff and patients endured sustained strikes in the Tel Al-Zaatar neighborhood.

Al-Awda was housing approximately 47 patients at the time, including nearly 20 children and several pregnant women. The hospital also sheltered around 140 doctors, nurses, and volunteers, according to board member Mahmoud Shurafi. Some staff members sustained injuries, though precise figures have not been confirmed.

The nearby Indonesian Hospital, also in northern Gaza, reportedly came under fire around the same time, compounding concerns over the collapsing healthcare infrastructure in the region.

The Israeli military stated it had not planned a strike on Al-Awda and is currently investigating the source of the explosions.

The targeting of hospitals, which are protected under international humanitarian law, has drawn condemnation from global health and human rights organisations amid ongoing scrutiny of Israel’s military operations in densely populated civilian areas.

Al-Awda’s partial destruction marks a devastating blow to Gaza’s already strained health system, leaving medical professionals to contend with dwindling resources, relentless violence, and mounting casualties.

Africa News/ Maghrebi.org