Numerous casualties reported in an attack on a hospital in Gaza

Reports indicate that a hospital in Gaza was struck in an Israeli attack on Tuesday, resulting in the tragic loss of hundreds of lives. The Gaza Health Ministry spokesperson revealed that the death toll had reached 500 as a result of the alleged airstrike on the Al Ahli Arab hospital, as reported by the BBC. An Israeli Army spokesperson was quoted as saying that the cause of the incident remains unclear, and the army is actively investigating the details.

The hospital, which is funded by the Anglican Church, suffered a direct hit from an Israeli missile, according to Richard Sewell, Dean of St George’s College, a prominent figure within the church in Jerusalem, as reported by the BBC. Sewell expressed that early reports suggested the casualties included hundreds of women and children, characterizing the event as a “deliberate killing of vulnerable civilians” and calling for an immediate cessation of the bombings.

Professor Ghassan Abu Sittah, a British-Palestinian surgeon who was present at the hospital during the strike, informed the BBC that portions of the hospital were ablaze, potentially including the emergency department. Significant damage was evident, with debris scattered throughout. The hospital had become a refuge for numerous individuals.

An unnamed doctor at the hospital described the scene as one of total devastation, where approximately 4,000 displaced persons had sought shelter. This doctor also noted that about 80% of the hospital’s facilities were rendered nonfunctional, and the blast resulted in hundreds of casualties.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas declared a three-day period of mourning in response to the airstrike on Gaza’s Al Ahli hospital, as reported by Palestinian state media.”