Witnesses Describe Horrors of Israeli Airstrike on Gaza Hospital Compound
Witnesses to an Israeli airstrike at a tent camp within the al-Aqsa Hospital compound in Gaza have recounted their distressing experiences, describing scenes of chaos and devastation. One mother referred to it as “one of the worst scenes we’ve witnessed,” while an injured girl recalled the screams as people desperately tried to escape the flames.
The strike occurred early Monday morning, igniting fires that engulfed makeshift shelters for displaced individuals. The Hamas-run health ministry reported at least four fatalities and dozens of injuries, primarily affecting women and children.
Verified footage shows a person on fire, alongside scenes of frantic efforts to extinguish the flames amid the sounds of explosions. The Israeli military claimed the strike targeted Hamas fighters using a command center in the area, suggesting that subsequent explosions led to the fire. This incident is currently under review.
Doctors Without Borders (MSF), which operates at the hospital, stated they had no knowledge of a Hamas facility there, asserting that the site functions solely as a medical facility. The UN's humanitarian agency condemned the attack, emphasizing that “atrocities must end,” while a spokesperson from the White House expressed deep concern over the footage.
Witness accounts indicate the strike occurred around 1:15 AM local time, targeting a space between shelters and an empty outpatient area. Hiba Radi, a mother residing in a tent nearby, described the chaos of explosions and the uncertainty about their cause.
Photographer Atia Darwish, who captured some of the distressing images, expressed his helplessness, stating he felt “broken down” as he witnessed the suffering. Um Yaser Abdel Hamid Daher, another resident, highlighted the horror of seeing so many people burning.
Among the injured was an 11-year-old girl, Lina, who recounted her traumatic experience, stating her neighbor’s daughter was injured and her father killed. She and her family lost everything in the attack.
According to the health ministry, the initial report indicated four deaths and over 40 injuries, but MSF later updated the figures to five dead and 65 injured, with many victims suffering severe burns.
MSF’s emergency coordinator noted the dire condition of burn victims, indicating that many may not survive. This recent strike marks the seventh on the hospital site since March, with three occurring in the past two weeks.
After the attack, responders were seen sifting through the wreckage to recover belongings. The acting head of the UN's humanitarian agency remarked that there is no safe place in Gaza for the displaced, highlighting the ongoing crisis.
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