Shuhada al-Aqsa Hospital

Shuhada al-Aqsa Hospital
Map
Geography
LocationDeir al-Balah, Deir al-Balah Governorate, Gaza Strip, Palestine
Coordinates31°25′11.89″N 34°21′36″E / 31.4199694°N 34.36000°E / 31.4199694; 34.36000
Organisation
TypeTreatment
History
Opened2001

Shuhada al-Aqsa Hospital (Arabic: مستشفى شهداء الأقصى الحكومي, romanized: Mustashfaa shuhada' al'aqsaa alhukumii, lit. 'al-Aqsa Martyrs Governmental Hospital') is a hospital in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, Palestine.

Shuhada was founded in 2001. As of 2018, it was one of fifteen public hospitals in the Gaza Strip.

It is managed by UNRWA, The Ministry of Health and various NGOs. The hospital served an estimated 18,000 patients each month until recently.[clarification needed] According to The Ministry of Health, the hospital's emergency department had over 11,000 visits. [1][2][3] In 2018, the hospital had 166 beds.[4]

History

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Caught in the ongoing Israeli–Palestinian conflict, the hospital has both been targeted and faced repercussions of nearby targeting from the IDF. In 2014, several shells hit the hospital's intensive care unit in an IDF bombing campaign that was targeting anti-tank missiles in the area. Four Palestinians were killed, and an estimated forty others were injured.[5] During the 2023 Israel-Hamas war, the hospital faced immense overcrowding.[6][7] IDF airstrikes in Deir al-Balah and around the hospital resulted in hundreds of deaths and injuries.[8]

2023 Israel-Hamas War

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See also: Al-Aqsa Hospital massacre
This section is an excerpt from Gaza humanitarian crisis (2023–present) § Al-Aqsa Hospital.[edit]

Beginning on 6 January, doctors at Shuhada al-Aqsa Hospital reported that Israeli fire was nearing the hospital. Tens of thousands of people were reported to be sheltering at the hospital.[9] British doctor Nick Maynard stated his medical team was forced to evacuate the hospital as Israeli troops attacked the hospital.[10] Medical Aid for Palestinians and the International Rescue Committee both also evacuated their medical teams when the IDF dropped leaflets telling nearby residents they were in a "dangerous combat zone."[11][12] Following a visit to the hospital, the World Health Organization found 70% of staff and many patients had fled.[13] Doctors reported many patients who were physically unable to move, and that conditions were rapidly deteriorating, with one doctor stating, "A child came in alive, literally burnt to the bone, their hands were contracting. Their face was just charcoal, and they were alive and talking. And we had no morphine."[12][14]

In an interview with NPR on 10 January, one American doctor described the situation at Al-Aqsa as the "stuff of nightmares".[15] Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the World Health Organization chief, stated, "Three months into this conflict, it is inconceivable that this most essential need — the protection of health care — is not assured."[16] Health professionals and doctors warned of the danger of Al-Aqsa's closure since it was the last remaining hospital in the entirety of central Gaza.[17] On 13 January, the hospital ran out of fuel to power its generators, leading to a blackout that threatened patients.[18] The hospital again ran out of fuel in late-May 2024.[19]

In June 2024, the situation at the hospital was said to be "something above emergency", as the hospital ran out of fuel.[20] In July 2024, an Israeli airstrike destroyed a media tent outside the hospital.[21] In August 2024, at least four Palestinians including a woman were killed and 18 were injured in an Israeli bombing of tents used by displaced people in the courtyard of the hospital.[22][23][24] These displaced people had moved into the courtyard following the bombing of a nearby evacuation shelter in late-July 2024.[25] At this point, the Al Aqsa Hospital was one of the last remaining hospitals operating in Gaza.[26] In late-August, patients fled the hospital following an evacuation order from the Israeli military.[27] In September 2024, the hospital warned that supply shortages were putting it at risk of shutting down.[28]

October 2024

[edit]

On the night of Sunday, October 13, 2024, Israeli warplanes targeted Shuhada al-Aqsa Hospital in the heart of Gaza, igniting a massive fire. Many Palestinians were asleep at the time. According to reports, the charred remains of victims are unidentifiable. Medical teams managed to rescue some women and children, but they sustained severe burns. The White House stated that the images and videos depicting Palestinian refugees burning alive as a result of this Israeli attack are profoundly disturbing and horrifying.[29]

Shaban al-Dalou[a] was a 19-year-old software engineering student and Palestinian refugee living in the heart of Gaza. He shared images depicting the plight of Palestinian refugees and released videos showcasing the wounded at Shuhada al-Aqsa Hospital, highlighting their urgent need for blood donations. Shaban and his mother were burned alive in a fire caused by Israeli bombing on October 13.[31]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ first name also spelled Sha'ban[30]

References

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  1. ^ "Solar Electrification of the Health System in the Gaza Strip: Opportunities & Challenges" (PDF). United Nations Development Programme: 8, 30 – via United Nations.
  2. ^ "KASR al-HAYR al-GHARBI". Encyclopaedia of Islam, Second Edition. doi:10.1163/1573-3912_islam_sim_3995. Retrieved 2023-12-05.
  3. ^ "Letter to Israel Military Advocate General Re: Attacks on Health Facilities | Human Rights Watch". 2017-02-21. Retrieved 2023-12-05.
  4. ^ "Health Facilities in the Gaza Strip" (PDF). Health Cluster Occupied Palestinian Territory: 1. August 2018.
  5. ^ "Gaza conflict: Five dead at hospital hit by Israeli strike". BBC News. 2014-07-21. Retrieved 2023-12-05.
  6. ^ Rankin, Frances; Doran, Temujin; Lamborn, Katie (2023-10-24). "24 hours in a Gaza hospital pushed to the brink". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-12-05.
  7. ^ "Following an Israeli airstrike, crowded Gaza hospital struggles to treat wounded children". AP News. 2023-11-02. Retrieved 2023-12-05.
  8. ^ Doctors at Al Aqsa Martyrs Hospital Emergency Department describe "bloody day" | CNN, 2023-10-23, retrieved 2023-12-05
  9. ^ Abu Riash, Abdelhakim. "Photos: Terrified people flee Israeli attacks at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 29 February 2024. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  10. ^ Goillandeau, Martin (9 January 2024). "British surgeon says Gaza 'beyond worst thing' he's seen, as Jordan's king warns Israel creating a 'generation of orphans'". CNN. Archived from the original on 29 February 2024. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  11. ^ "2 medical groups say they are pulling teams from central Gaza hospital due to IDF operations". Times of Israel. Archived from the original on 25 January 2024. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  12. ^ a b Davies, Alys (10 January 2024). "'Deep concern' for patients and staff at Gaza's al-Aqsa hospital". BBC News. Archived from the original on 5 February 2024. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  13. ^ Farge, Emma. "Medics, patients flee Gaza's remaining hospitals as fighting intensifies - WHO". Reuters. Archived from the original on 14 April 2024. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  14. ^ "Desperately trying to save children at one of Gaza's last functioning hospitals". The Independent. 11 January 2024. Archived from the original on 12 February 2024. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  15. ^ "'It's the Stuff of Nightmares' Scenes from Inside a Gaza Hospital". NPR. 10 January 2024. Archived from the original on 12 January 2024. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  16. ^ Martuscelli, Carlo (8 January 2024). "Only 5 doctors remain in one of Gaza's last hospitals, warns WHO". Politico. Archived from the original on 13 January 2024. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  17. ^ Parker, Claire (8 January 2024). "Displaced residents flee last hospital in central Gaza as fighting nears". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 9 January 2024. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  18. ^ "Blackout in Gaza's Al-Aqsa Hospital as fuel runs out, babies at high risk". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 26 February 2024. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  19. ^ Motamedi, Maziar; Siddiqui, Usaid (24 May 2024). "'Patients condemned to death' as power cut at packed Al-Aqsa Hospital". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 3 June 2024. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
  20. ^ Mahmoud, Hani. "Al-Aqsa Hospital overwhelmed with problems". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
  21. ^ "Israeli air attack strikes media tent outside Al-Aqsa Hospital". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
  22. ^ Pietromarchi, Lyndal Rowlands,Zaheena Rasheed,Virginia. "Al-Aqsa Hospital bombed". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2024-08-04.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  23. ^ "Strike on Gaza kills 4 and stabbing in Israel kills 2 as fears of wider war spike across the Mideast". Washington Post. 2024-08-04. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2024-08-04. Gaza's Health Ministry does not differentiate between civilians and militants in its tallies.
  24. ^ Strike hits a tent camp in the courtyard of Al Aqsa Martyrs hospital in central Gaza. Retrieved 2024-08-04 – via apnews.com.
  25. ^ "Chaotic scenes as casualties rushed to Deir el-Balah hospital". YouTube. Al Jazeera English. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
  26. ^ El-Naggar, Mona; Kerr, Sarah; Laffin, Ben; Rhyne, Emily. "Inside One of the Last Functioning Hospitals in Gaza". The New York Times. Retrieved 17 August 2024.
  27. ^ "Palestinian Patients flee Deir el-Balah's Al-Aqsa Hospital following Israeli evacuation order". YouTube. Al Jazeera English. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
  28. ^ "Central Gaza hospital warns of imminent shutdown due to supply shortages". Middle East Eye. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
  29. ^ Hernandez, Michael Gabriel. "White House says imagery of Gazans burning alive after Israeli strike is 'horrifying'". Anadolu Ajansı.
  30. ^ https://www.democracynow.org/2024/10/18/sha_ban_al_dalou
  31. ^ "Shaban al-Dalou: The Palestinian teen burned to death in Israeli bombing". aljazeera.


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