The World Health Organization (WHO) announced that following yesterday's Israeli airstrike on Al Ahli Arab Hospital in northern Gaza, the facility has been completely destroyed and rendered non-operational.

Officials in Gaza say the damage to critical departments of the hospital — including the emergency room, laboratory, imaging equipment, and pharmacy — has made it incapable of delivering medical services.

Fadel Naeem, acting director of Al-Ahli Hospital, stated: “We have now made a preliminary assessment of the damage, which is very extensive. We will need weeks to restore the place, and in some parts, it may extend to months. There is a major problem in the radiology and laboratory departments, because the damaged equipment cannot be replaced in the Gaza Strip due to the blockade imposed on the Strip. There are no spare parts even for some of the equipment that can be repaired.”

Mahmoud Basal, spokesperson for Gaza Civil Defense, said: "The major event is leading to the destruction of one of the departments within the hospital, which included the destruction of the reception area, the lab, the blood bank and the embryos lab. This is truly a tragedy and a substantial challenge facing the health system now."

Hospital officials say they were forced to transfer up to 50 patients to other medical centers. However, 40 other patients in critical condition could not be moved due to a lack of medical resources.

Taha Abu Shaweesh, a doctor at Al-Ahli Hospital, explained: “After the bombing of Al-Ahli Hospital, and the complete destruction of the reception and emergency department, the health system went completely out of service. With lack of healthcare options available, the numbers of injuries and patients increased. Also, with the closure of the crossing borders, and the lack of entry for any medical aid, the only hospital that serves northern people in the city of Gaza has completely gone out of service.”

The World Health Organization emphasized that hospitals, patients, and medical staff are protected under international humanitarian law, and that attacks on health facilities must stop immediately. The WHO once again called for an end to the blockade on humanitarian aid and protection of Gaza's healthcare system.