In brief
In a recent escalation of violence, an Israeli airstrike has resulted in the death of a security guard and injuries to ten patients at the Kuwait Specialty Field Hospital in southern Gaza. This incident follows a previous attack on another hospital in Gaza City, highlighting the precarious situation for medical facilities amidst ongoing conflict.
An Israeli strike killed a security guard and wounded 10 patients at a field hospital in southern Gaza on Tuesday, according to the hospital's director. The attack, which struck the Kuwait Specialty Field Hospital, occurred just two days after Israel targeted the Al Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City, one of the remaining operational medical centers in the area. Israel claims its assaults are aimed at Hamas targets, including a command center allegedly located at the Al Ahli hospital, although no evidence has been provided to substantiate these claims.In response to the latest attack, the Israeli military announced it was investigating the reports surrounding the Kuwait Specialty Field Hospital incident. Dr. Suhaib al-Hamss, the hospital's director, stated that the security guard was killed while protecting the facility's entrance, and four of the wounded patients sustained severe injuries. “It was a powerful strike,” Dr. al-Hamss remarked. “Everything fell over.”The ongoing Israeli military operations in Gaza have severely impacted hospitals and the overall healthcare system. The World Health Organization (W.H.O.) recently reported that 33 out of 36 hospitals in Gaza have been damaged in the conflict, leaving only 21 partially operational. Moreover, the W.H.O. warned last week that medical facilities are facing a significant shortage of supplies, exacerbated by Israel's blockade of aid deliveries for nearly six weeks.While Israel accuses Hamas of using health facilities for military strategies, Dr. al-Hamss firmly rejected these allegations, emphasizing that the hospital's operations were strictly medical and that its location had been disclosed to Israeli authorities prior to the strike. He asserted that the facility had been vetted for safety and was not linked to Hamas government offices.The Kuwait Specialty Field Hospital has been a critical lifeline, treating approximately 3,500 patients daily in light of the healthcare sector's collapse in Gaza. Dr. al-Hamss remarked, “The hospital is providing a solution to the people as the health sector in Gaza is collapsing.” With the ongoing conflict showing no signs of abating, the safety and functionality of medical facilities remain at serious risk, highlighting the tragic human cost of the deadly hostilities in the region.
