
Israeli Airstrike Hits Gaza City Hospital, destroyed surgical unit and oxygen station, cut off access to Rafah
- World News
- April 13, 2025
- No Comment
Israeli Airstrike Hits Gaza City Hospital, destroyed surgical unit and oxygen station, cut off access to Rafah
An Israeli airstrike struck the al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City early Sunday morning, destroying key infrastructure and intensifying the ongoing military campaign across the Gaza Strip. The attack coincided with expanding Israeli operations that have now cut off access to the southern city of Rafah.
According to the Palestinian Civil Defence, missiles destroyed the hospital’s surgical unit and oxygen station, crippling the only functioning medical facility in northern Gaza. One child reportedly died during the emergency evacuation due to the lack of critical care.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed the strike, alleging that the hospital compound was being used as a Hamas command center to coordinate attacks against Israeli forces.
“The compound was used by Hamas terrorists to plan and execute terror attacks,” stated the IDF, adding that civilians were given advance warnings before the airstrike.
The Anglican Diocese of Jerusalem, which oversees the hospital, condemned the attack, noting this was the fifth time al-Ahli had been targeted.
Israeli Forces Seize Key Corridor in the South
In parallel to the airstrike, Israeli forces have taken control of the “Morag Axis,” a corridor connecting Rafah to Khan Younis. This move effectively cuts off southern Gaza, a critical zone sheltering more than 1.4 million displaced Palestinians.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant confirmed the expansion of the so-called security buffer zone, now covering over 50% of Gaza. He urged civilians to evacuate upcoming combat zones, stating that military operations would intensify across additional areas.
“Our operations will continue with full force until Hamas is removed and the hostages are freed,” Gallant said.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports that over 400,000 Palestinians have been displaced in recent weeks and that more than two-thirds of Gaza is now under evacuation orders or inaccessible to humanitarian aid.
Mounting Humanitarian Crisis
Israel has maintained a blockade on fuel, food, and medical supplies in Gaza for over a month, prompting warnings from international rights groups that the blockade amounts to collective punishment and violates international law.
Since Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel—which resulted in the deaths of around 1,200 Israelis—Israel’s military campaign in Gaza has reportedly killed over 50,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.