Indonesian Hospital in Northern Gaza Destroyed in Israeli Attacks
ICARO Media Group
The Indonesian Hospital, one of northern Gaza's largest healthcare facilities, has been left severely damaged and may never reopen again following Israeli attacks. The shocking scenes left by the Israeli forces have sparked concerns about the availability of vital medical services in the region.
Director-General of the Ministry of Health in Gaza, Munir al-Bursh, expressed shock and horror at the devastation caused by Israeli tanks and snipers at the Indonesian Hospital in Beit Lahia. Describing the desperate situation, al-Bursh revealed that the hospital's main generator was targeted and the premises were raided just hours before a four-day truce between Israel and Hamas came into effect.
According to the Ministry of Health, the hospital was under heavy bombardment by the Israeli army, putting the lives of 200 injured people and medical staff in danger. Tragically, a wounded woman was killed during the intense Israeli fire, and at least three others were injured. The hospital is now in ruins and struggling to cope with a large influx of wounded patients due to shortages in medical supplies.
Al Jazeera's correspondent, Osama Bin Javaid, managed to gain access to the hospital and reported that the facility has become overwhelmed with patients. Corridors have been transformed into makeshift wards, and surgeons have been forced to operate on the floor. Outside the hospital, the scene is heartbreaking, with charred and decomposing bodies, including children, accumulating in corners. The dangerous situation has prevented burials for days, as Israeli snipers targeted anyone attempting to dig graves.
Anas al-Sharif, a journalist on the ground in northern Gaza, described the extent of the destruction caused by the Israeli raid and interrogation of hospital staff. Major parts of the hospital have been damaged and destroyed, along with essential equipment and supplies.
Nurses who experienced the horror of the Israeli raid at the hospital shared their traumatic accounts. They were interrogated, asked about the resistance, and questioned about the whereabouts of fighters. The nurses pleaded with the Israeli forces, assuring them that they were civilians and caretakers of sick people and children. Despite their pleas, the hospital staff faced intimidation and violence.
The hospital's fourth floor was specifically targeted, cutting off electricity and disabling the solar power system. This left 25 patients with broken pelvises unable to move. Furthermore, the nurses said they were beaten and subjected to abusive questioning, with every query accompanied by a slap. Despite the ordeal, the nurses remained committed to their patients and vowed to be the last to leave the hospital.
The Indonesian Hospital was not only a place of medical care but also a refuge for hundreds of displaced people, including those from the nearby Jabalia refugee camp. The destruction of the hospital adds to the already dire healthcare situation in Gaza and raises concerns about the access to medical services for the affected population.
The world is watching with growing concern as the tragedy unfolds in Gaza, hoping for a swift resolution to the conflict and for the restoration of essential healthcare facilities like the Indonesian Hospital.