Israeli Raid on Nasser Hospital in Gaza Leaves Patients Dead and Facility in Crisis, WHO Expresses Concern
In a deeply alarming turn of events, Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, Gaza, has been left in crisis after an Israeli raid resulted in the deaths of five patients. The Ministry of Health in Hamas-controlled Gaza reported that the hospital lost power due to the raid, leaving it without essential resources such as electricity, water, food, and heating. The World Health Organization (WHO) has expressed grave concern over the situation.
The Nasser Medical Complex, which was already barely functional, now faces an even more dire situation. The hospital has been unable to provide urgent care, leaving critically injured and sick patients in a vulnerable state. WHO spokesperson Tarik Jasarevic emphasized the urgent need to deliver fuel to the hospital to ensure the continuation of lifesaving services.
The IDF (Israel Defense Forces) claimed that the raid was a response to Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7. They stated that weapons were found inside the hospital and that dozens of terror suspects were apprehended. However, the IDF did not provide further details regarding the detainees or their alleged involvement in the attack. A low-resolution photograph of the alleged weapons stash was released, but its authenticity could not be independently verified.
The international community has expressed deep concern over the IDF’s raid on Nasser Hospital. Jasarevic stressed that patients, health workers, and civilians seeking refuge deserve safety, not peril in places of healing. The hospital is a crucial component of the health system in southern Gaza and must remain functional to prevent further loss of life and suffering.
The IDF claimed that the operation was based on intelligence gathered from released hostages and their belief that dead hostages were being held inside the hospital. However, Hamas denied these claims, stating that they had no business at the hospital. The IDF spokesman acknowledged that no hostages were found but stated that they were continuing to scan the facility.
The IDF denied targeting the hospital’s power supply and attributed the power outage to a generator malfunction. They asserted that all vital systems remained functional due to a backup power system and that they had provided additional support, including an alternative generator, food for infants, water, and diesel fuel.
Under international humanitarian law, hospitals are protected civilian objects, and it is illegal to attack them or prevent them from providing care. However, a hospital can lose its protected status if it is used by an armed group for harmful acts. Even in such cases, patients and doctors inside are still protected by the principle of proportionality, which requires a warning and time for safe evacuation before an attack.
Prior to the operation on Nasser Hospital, the IDF ordered hundreds of civilians to leave the facility, which they had been using as a shelter. Medical staff shared videos showing widespread destruction and damage to the hospital infrastructure. A doctor trapped inside the complex expressed concern that ICU patients would not survive as the army was operating inside the ICU. The hospital’s wards and corridors were described as flooded with beds, making it difficult for medical staff to provide necessary care.
The situation at Nasser Hospital has also affected humanitarian organizations. Doctors Without Borders (MSF) reported that Israeli forces shelled the hospital, resulting in casualties and injuries. One MSF colleague remains unaccounted for, and staff were forced to flee through an Israeli military checkpoint, with one employee being detained.
The crisis at Nasser Hospital highlights the urgent need for a resolution to the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The lives of patients, medical staff, and civilians must be protected, and hospitals should remain safe spaces for healing rather than becoming targets of violence. The international community must work together to ensure the provision of essential resources and support for hospitals in conflict zones to prevent further loss of life and suffering.