An Israeli airstrike on Tuesday resulted in the death of a security guard and injuries to ten patients at the Kuwait Specialty Field Hospital in southern Gaza, according to the facility's director.
This incident follows a recent attack by Israel on the Al Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City, which Israel claimed was targeting a Hamas command center, although no evidence was provided to support this assertion.
The Israeli military stated that it is currently investigating the reports regarding the strike on the Kuwait Specialty Field Hospital.
Dr. Suhaib al-Hamss, the hospital's director, reported that the slain guard was killed while protecting the facility's entrance, with four of the injured patients suffering from serious wounds. He described the attack as a "powerful strike," stating, "Everything fell over."
The ongoing Israeli military operations in Gaza have severely impacted the region's healthcare infrastructure. The World Health Organization noted last month that 33 out of Gaza's 36 hospitals had sustained damage during the conflict, with only 21 remaining partially operational. Additionally, the WHO warned of an impending shortage of medical supplies, as Israel has restricted aid deliveries for six weeks.
Israel has accused Hamas of misusing healthcare facilities for military activities, a claim that Hamas has denied. Dr. al-Hamss emphasized that the hospital's location was communicated to Israeli authorities prior to the attack and asserted that no Hamas offices were situated within the medical facility.
"We’re not doing anything other than medicine," he stated, highlighting the hospital's critical role in providing care to the local population amidst the collapse of Gaza's healthcare sector.
According to Dr. al-Hamss, the Kuwait Specialty Field Hospital was treating at least 3,500 patients daily, serving as an essential resource for the community.