Israeli Airstrikes Target Alleged Hamas Activity During Holy Week

Explosion with smoke rising over rural landscape

Israeli airstrikes on Gaza’s last fully operational hospital during Holy Week ignite international outcry, while Israel claims it targeted a Hamas command center embedded within the medical facility.

Key Insights

Israeli forces struck Al-Ahli Arab Baptist Hospital and damaged nearby St. Porphyrius Church during Palm Sunday, giving only 18-20 minutes evacuation notice.
The IDF claims the hospital housed a Hamas “command and control center,” though evidence for this claim has been questioned.
The Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem, which operates the 143-year-old hospital, condemned the attack that killed at least three critically ill patients.
The World Health Organization emphasized that hospitals are protected under international humanitarian law, with targeting health facilities classified as a war crime.

Holy Week Attack Devastates Critical Medical Facility

In a significant escalation of the Gaza conflict, Israeli airstrikes hit the Al-Ahli Arab Baptist Hospital in Gaza City during Palm Sunday celebrations, destroying the emergency department and severely damaging other sections of the facility. The 143-year-old hospital, managed by the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem, was reportedly the last fully functional hospital in Gaza City after others had been destroyed or rendered inoperable. The strike occurred as Christians were commemorating the beginning of Holy Week at the nearby Saint Porphyrius Greek Orthodox Church, which also sustained damage in the attack.

According to local sources, the Israeli military issued evacuation orders just 18-20 minutes before the bombardment, leaving little time for patients and medical staff to evacuate. Reports indicate at least three critically ill patients died as a result of the attack, which also destroyed the hospital’s surgery building and oxygen generation station. The Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem strongly condemned the missile strikes, highlighting the hospital’s critical role in providing healthcare to Gaza’s besieged population and its status as a protected facility under international law.

Disputed Claims Over Military Targets

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) defended the strike, claiming the hospital was targeted because it housed a “command and control centre used by Hamas.” In a statement, the IDF asserted they had taken measures to minimize civilian casualties, including issuing warnings and using precise munitions. However, these claims have been met with skepticism from international observers and religious authorities. The Hamas-run government media office in Gaza categorically denied any military presence at the hospital, calling the attack a deliberate targeting of a civilian healthcare facility.

The World Health Organization joined numerous international voices in condemning the attack, emphasizing that hospitals are protected under international humanitarian law regardless of circumstances. The UN body pointed out that the deterioration of Gaza’s healthcare system has reached catastrophic levels, with reports indicating that 30 of Gaza’s 36 hospitals have been bombed since the conflict began in October, leading to a near-total collapse of medical services in the territory where over 50,000 Palestinians have reportedly been killed.

Religious Significance and International Response

The timing of the attack during Palm Sunday has added another dimension to international criticism. The Archbishop of York expressed profound grief over the bombing, highlighting its occurrence on one of Christianity’s most significant days. The Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem condemned the strike as an attack on a sanctuary of life and dignity. Reports from the Palm Sunday service at Saint Porphyrius described a somber atmosphere, with the usual joy of the celebration notably absent, especially among children in attendance.

UK Foreign Minister David Lammy joined the chorus of international condemnation, expressing concern over the continued suffering of civilians in Gaza. The Al-Ahli hospital has reportedly been bombed five times since the conflict began in 2023, raising questions about the protection of medical facilities in the ongoing war. Under international humanitarian law, deliberately targeting health facilities and personnel is classified as a war crime, a point emphasized by multiple human rights organizations monitoring the conflict.

Broader Context of Regional Tensions

The hospital bombing comes amid escalating regional tensions, with reports that on the same day of the hospital strike, the Israeli army allegedly demolished a statue of Saint George in southern Lebanon. This action, according to some observers, violated both the current ceasefire agreement and religious rights. The targeting of religious symbols and healthcare facilities has raised concerns about the broader implications of the conflict beyond immediate military objectives, with some critics pointing to deeper sectarian dimensions of the ongoing hostilities.

As the death toll in Gaza continues to rise, with over 50,933 reported fatalities since October and 1,563 deaths since March 18 alone, the international community faces growing pressure to facilitate a ceasefire. Negotiations continue, but incidents like the hospital bombing highlight the complex challenges facing any potential resolution, particularly regarding the protection of civilian infrastructure and religious sites in one of the world’s most contested regions.