GAZA CITY: A hospital in northern Gaza has been forced to shut down after being targeted by the Israeli army, leaving thousands of Palestinian patients without medical care. The Al-Ahli hospital, one of the last remaining healthcare facilities in the region, ceased operations as Israeli forces stormed the premises, arresting doctors, medical staff, and patients, and causing major damage to the building.
The hospital director, Fadel Naim, reported that the attack has rendered the facility inoperable, making it impossible to receive patients or provide medical assistance. Tragically, at least four people wounded in a previous Israeli attack succumbed to their injuries following the assault on Al-Ahli Hospital.
This latest incident adds to the grim toll of the conflict, as the Palestinian health ministry reported that more than 19,667 people, mostly women and children, have been killed since October in the Palestinian territory.
UN Security Council to Vote on Gaza Ceasefire Resolution
Meanwhile, the UN Security Council is set to vote on a ceasefire resolution today, aiming to bring an end to the hostilities and facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.
The resolution, initially delayed for further negotiation, calls for an “urgent and lasting cessation of hostilities.” According to AFP, a modified text is now under consideration, reflecting efforts to reach a compromise after the United States blocked a resolution for an “immediate humanitarian ceasefire” on December 8.
The closure of Al-Ahli Hospital compounds the challenges faced by the already strained healthcare system in Gaza. Hospitals, protected under international humanitarian law, have repeatedly come under attack during the conflict, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.
