A strike by Israel outside a hospital in Rafah, southern Gaza, on Saturday resulted in the death of at least 11 people and injured many displaced Palestinians, including children, who were seeking shelter in nearby tents, as reported by the Gaza Health Ministry.
Among the casualties were two healthcare workers, including a paramedic, who were killed in the strike near the Emirati maternity hospital entrance, according to the health ministry.
Images captured by news agencies showed the paramedic’s colleagues carrying his body to a nearby hospital and injured children being attended to on stretchers, while other children watched in tears.
The Israeli military later stated that, with assistance from Israel’s security agency, they conducted a “precision strike” against “Islamic Jihad terrorists” near the hospital. The military did not comment on reports of children being injured in the strike.
Despite the Israeli military declaring Rafah a safe zone for civilians, airstrikes on the city have persisted, with over 1.5 million people now seeking refuge there, many living in makeshift tents due to overcrowding.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has indicated intentions to invade the city regardless of a temporary cease-fire, prompting concerns from humanitarian organizations and Israel’s allies about the potential catastrophic impact on civilians.
The World Health Organization’s leader, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, condemned Saturday’s strike as “outrageous and unspeakable,” calling for a cease-fire and protection of healthcare workers and civilians.
The victims of the strike were seeking refuge near the Emirati maternity hospital, one of the few functioning hospitals in Gaza. Despite limited capacity, the hospital handles a significant portion of daily births in the enclave, posing a critical risk to pregnant women and newborns in the vicinity.
The Emirati hospital serves as a vital resource for pregnant women in Gaza, with a strike so close to it presenting a grave danger to both patients and overwhelmed healthcare staff.
