Repeated Strikes on Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital Part of Israel’s Policy to Empty Gaza of Life, Says Director

Dr. Fadel Naeem, Director of Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital in Gaza, has condemned the repeated targeting of the hospital by Israeli forces, saying it reflects a deliberate policy aimed at dismantling Gaza’s healthcare infrastructure and forcibly displacing its population.

Speaking to Egypt Media, Dr. Naeem confirmed that the hospital was hit again in recent hours, in what he described as the latest incident in a series of attacks. “This is not the first time,” he said. “The hospital was previously subjected to a horrific strike on October 17, 2023, and has since suffered three more attacks. The occupation does not differentiate between hospitals, streets, or markets. Everything in Gaza has become a target.”

In the same connection, Dr. Naeem emphasized that the broader objective of these attacks appears to be making Gaza uninhabitable. With several major hospitals, including Kamal Adwan and Al-Awda, now out of service, Al-Ahli Baptist is under immense pressure, he said. “There are currently only two main centers providing medical care in the north — Al-Shifa Center and the Red Crescent Emergency Unit.”

The latest attack also claimed the lives of four journalists, in addition to civilians, hospital staff, and paramedics. Dr. Naeem denounced the targeting of journalists as a means to suppress the truth and conceal the scale of civilian suffering. “This is about silencing the witnesses to what is happening in Gaza,” he said.

Beyond the loss of life, the psychological toll on medical staff has been severe. “When our colleagues are injured or killed inside the hospital, working becomes far more difficult than dealing with mass casualties from outside,” Naeem noted.

Despite the escalating dangers, he reaffirmed the commitment of Gaza’s medical teams to continue their mission. “We took an oath to save lives,” he said. “And we will carry on — no matter what the cost.”