Palestinian International Organization for Peace and Human Rights
April 13, 2025
Targeting a medical facility in Gaza City
The Arab National Hospital (Baptist Hospital) in Gaza City was bombed on the morning of April 13, 2025, after a request was made to evacuate patients and staff. Reports indicate that the bombing struck the ambulance building and damaged several medical departments, including the reception, emergency room, pharmacy, and laboratory.
Consequences of forced patient evacuation
The strike came at a time when health facilities in the northern Gaza Strip were already under immense strain due to injuries and supply constraints. Patients and their companions were forced to leave the hospital under extremely difficult circumstances, and concerns were raised about the safety of those requiring ongoing medical care.
Legal protection for hospitals
International humanitarian law provides special protection for medical facilities, patients, and staff. Assessing the incident requires verifying the circumstances of the attack, any warnings issued, and the measures taken to protect those inside the hospital, rather than simply providing a general account of the losses.
Priority of continued care
The response requires restoring as many of the affected departments as possible, securing emergency supplies and medications, and providing safe pathways for patients requiring urgent transfer. Accountability for attacks on medical facilities remains essential to preventing their recurrence.
The featured image is for illustrative purposes only and does not depict the event itself. The Indonesian Hospital in Gaza, February 2025, is an archive photo and not of the Baptist Hospital. Photo by: Jaber Jihad Badwan, License CC BY-SA 4.0 — Image page.
