Israeli Military's Actions in Gaza: Medical Facilities Under Siege Amidst Ongoing Conflict

JERUSALEM — Recent reports have unveiled a deeply troubling narrative regarding the Israeli military's impact on Gaza's healthcare system. According to testimonies from 14 doctors and two nurses conveyed to NBC News, the Israeli military has engaged in systematic assaults on medical facilities throughout Gaza, severely compromising the region's capacity to deliver critical health care services. These operations reportedly involve not only the destruction of medical infrastructure but also the detention and killing of medical personnel both in their professional settings and in their homes.

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have defended their actions by asserting that Gaza's medical facilities are being utilized by Hamas as operational bases. They allege that these facilities are being used for weapon storage and as cover for militant activities. Despite these claims, the accounts provided by healthcare professionals paint a grim picture of the humanitarian consequences of these military actions.

One harrowing image shared with NBC News shows Israeli soldiers, armed and alert, at Al Khair Hospital, where civilians are depicted with their hands raised in surrender. Additional footage from Nasser Hospital reveals a tank traversing the streets amidst the clamor of automatic gunfire. On February 14, Israeli forces stormed this hospital complex, leaving its corridors shrouded in smoke, debris, and chaos.

Dr. Ahmed Almoghrabi, a plastic surgeon who witnessed the assault on Nasser Hospital, described the devastating scene. “They attacked the orthopedic department and killed and injured patients there,” he recounted. Fearing for his and his family’s safety, Dr. Almoghrabi ultimately fled Gaza for Egypt. “I had only two options: either they will kill us or they will detain us, and both choices are very bad,” he told NBC News.

The destruction of Gaza's largest medical facility, Al-Shifa Hospital, was reported in March, with the World Health Organization (WHO) confirming that the facility was reduced to ruins following an Israeli military operation. The toll on medical professionals has been significant, with Dr. Ahmad Maqadmeh and Dr. Hammam Alloh among those who have been killed. Dr. Maqadmeh was killed within Al-Shifa Hospital, while Dr. Alloh, Gaza’s sole kidney specialist, was murdered shortly after returning home.

The death toll among healthcare workers has been substantial. According to a list provided by Gaza’s Health Ministry and corroborated by NBC News interviews, at least 50 specialist doctors have been killed since the escalation of the Israeli military offensive following Hamas' attacks on October 7. As of June, the WHO reported that at least 20 of Gaza’s 36 hospitals had been either destroyed or rendered inoperative.

The IDF maintains that these medical facilities are being exploited by Hamas for military purposes, which they claim has led to the involvement of medical staff in terrorist activities. The IDF describes their actions as a regrettable but necessary response to Hamas' tactics. However, responses from medical personnel and health officials consistently refute these claims, asserting that there is no evidence of Hamas militants or terrorist activities occurring within hospital premises.

A WhatsApp group, initially created by doctors for information sharing, has evolved into a crucial platform for tracking the deaths and disappearances of medical professionals. This group has become a vital source of updates on colleagues and a repository for documenting the destruction of medical facilities.

Dr. Ghassan Abu-Sittah, a plastic surgeon based in the U.K., has closely monitored these developments. He expressed his distress over the loss of colleagues, including Dr. Ahmed Almaqadma, who was reportedly killed alongside his mother. “Every time you get a message from this group, your heart sinks thinking: there’s another piece of bad news,” Dr. Abu-Sittah said in an interview.

The impact on Gaza’s healthcare system is both severe and multifaceted. Dr. Abu-Sittah highlighted that replacing the lost specialist doctors will be a prolonged and challenging process, potentially spanning decades. He pointed to the example of Dr. Hammam Alloh, whose extensive training and expertise were abruptly ended by an airstrike in November.

The ongoing conflict and its effects on Gaza’s healthcare infrastructure are compounded by the increasing number of casualties. The United Nations estimates that it could take up to 14 years to clear the rubble from Gaza once the current offensive concludes. With more than 38,700 people reported dead since the beginning of the Israeli military campaign, and with the healthcare system under immense strain, the humanitarian crisis continues to escalate.

Dr. Mohammed Abu Salmiya, the director of Al-Shifa Hospital, expressed a hopeful outlook, stating, “God willing, we will return to work and rebuild Al Shifa Medical Hospital as it was and better.” Despite the dire circumstances, he remains committed to restoring the facility as a symbol of medical care for Gaza’s people.

As the conflict persists, the international community remains vigilant, and ongoing investigations aim to address the severe allegations and the devastating impact on Gaza's medical infrastructure and personnel.