Israeli airstrikes on Palm Sunday destroyed several parts of Gaza, including the Al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City, killing at least 21 people, including children. The strikes intensified the already deadly conflict, with both pre-dawn and afternoon bombings triggering widespread panic and misery throughout the Gaza Strip.
Attack on Al-Ahli Hospital
The strike on Al-Ahli Hospital, the last major functioning medical facility in northern Gaza, caused significant damage to the emergency rooms, pharmacy, and surrounding buildings.
Hospital director Dr. Fadel Naim reported that more than 100 patients and dozens of staff were severely impacted as the facility’s operations were crippled.
Gaza’s Health Ministry confirmed the death of a young girl during the chaotic evacuation following an Israeli warning. Staff were unable to provide urgent care as they scrambled to move patients to safety.
Israel claimed it targeted a Hamas command center within the hospital but provided no evidence to substantiate the claim. Hamas denied these accusations.
Christian Reaction and Impact on Palm Sunday
Al-Ahli Hospital is run by the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem, which condemned the attack, saying in a statement it happened on “Palm Sunday, the start of the Holy Week, the most sacred week of the Christian year.”
Palm Sunday celebrations, typically marked with worship and song, were subdued. A local church in Gaza City stood strangely untouched amid city-wide debris, as Christians gathered quietly in mourning.
Associated Press footage revealed a gaping hole in the hospital’s roof, with shattered walls and medical beds dragged outside. Many patients had no option but to sleep on the streets.
“Nothing was left safe inside the hospital, or all over Gaza,” said Mohammad Abu Nasser, an injured man who sat on his bed outdoors and looked at the destruction.
Gaza’s Health Ministry declared the hospital temporarily out of service, moving patients to other overstretched facilities. Aid group Medical Aid for Palestinians said this marked the fifth strike on Al-Ahli since the war began.
Hospitals hold protected status under international law, yet Israel has repeatedly raided and bombed medical facilities, alleging their use as cover by Hamas. Last month, an Israeli strike on Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis caused a large fire and killed two.
Tragedy Across Gaza
Later on Sunday, a strike in Deir al-Balah hit a car carrying aid workers, killing seven people, including six brothers aged 10 and up. Their father, Ibrahim Abu Mahadi, was devastated:
“For what sin were they killed?” he cried.
Their charity worked to distribute food to displaced Palestinians. Witnesses described the scene as gut-wrenching, with bloodied bodies and a twisted car frame. Israel’s military claimed it had eliminated a Hamas sniper cell deputy.
In the Jabalya refugee camp, another airstrike destroyed a residential house, killing at least seven, including two women. Alaa Manoun, a pregnant woman, survived the collapse but lost her husband, mother, and youngest daughter. Her two other daughters, aged four and seven, were injured.
“We don’t know whose body is this and whose body is that,” said Abdallah Dardouna, a neighbor. “There is no resistance, there is no Qassam, no Hamas, there is no one here. It’s only civilians here.” It’s only civilians here.”
Another strike in Deir al-Balah destroyed a municipal building, killing three, while a separate attack in Khan Younis also took three more lives.
Escalation and Historical Context
Israel’s military stated that it had struck over 90 targets in the last 48 hours, targeting Hamas tunnels, command centers, and weapons storage. Israel also intercepted a projectile launched from Gaza.
Context of the Ongoing War
The war, now entering its seventh month, began after Hamas-led militants killed over 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took 250 hostages during the October 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel. In response, Israel launched a relentless military offensive and imposed severe blockades.
According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, over 50,000 Palestinians have died since the war began, with more than half of them women and children. These figures do not differentiate between civilians and fighters.
International Pressure on Israel
Israel faces growing international calls for a ceasefire and the release of the remaining hostages. As of Sunday, 59 hostages remain, 24 of whom are believed to be alive.
Houthi Missile Launch
On Sunday, sirens rang out in parts of Israel and the West Bank as a missile launched from Yemen approached. Israel is investigating the incident, which caused no casualties. The Houthi rebels, supported by Iran, claimed responsibility for the missile strike in solidarity with Palestinians.
The Humanitarian Crisis Deepens
As the war continues with no clear end in sight, the attack on Al-Ahli Hospital has become another painful symbol of the escalating humanitarian disaster. What was meant to be a holy day of peace and remembrance has instead turned into another chapter of loss, mourning, and unanswered questions.
