Charred Bodies Found as Israeli Strikes Hit Gaza Hospital Tents

Department of Security and Military Strategic Research and Studies 14-10-2024

Footage from Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital reveals rescue teams frantically working to save lives amidst an uncontrollable blaze.

An Israeli airstrike on tents housing displaced Palestinians within a hospital complex in Gaza resulted in the deaths of at least four individuals and left over 70 others wounded, many in critical condition, as Israel’s ongoing campaign in the blockaded region enters its second year.

The strike, which took place at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir el-Balah, central Gaza, early Monday, targeted tents where displaced civilians had sought refuge. Videos captured the chaos as rescuers attempted to control a significant fire. The casualty count is expected to rise.

“We were jolted awake by smoke, flames, and burning debris falling onto the tents from every direction. The explosions were terrifying both inside the tents and outside, near Al-Aqsa Hospital,” said Om Ahmad Radi, a survivor, speaking to Al Jazeera.

“Fire trucks couldn’t reach us. There were charred bodies scattered everywhere. The magnitude of the fire and explosions was overwhelming. It was one of the most horrifying nights we’ve ever experienced,” she recounted.

Gaza’s Media Office reported that this marks the seventh time this year that Israeli forces have targeted the hospital grounds, and the third time in recent weeks, killing Palestinians who had been displaced from their homes.

Hani Mahmoud, Al Jazeera’s correspondent in Deir el-Balah, stated, “Around 20 to 30 tents were completely destroyed by the fire. Many people inside the tents could not be rescued as the blaze spread. The tents were densely packed together in a small area within the hospital’s courtyard.”

Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee confirmed that the Israeli air force was responsible for the strike, claiming, without providing evidence, that the hospital complex was being used by Hamas as a “command and control center” for attacks against Israel.

Israeli forces have consistently targeted healthcare facilities in Gaza since the offensive began over a year ago, further crippling the enclave’s already strained health system and infrastructure.

Last week, a United Nations Independent International Commission of Inquiry (CoI) published a report accusing Israel of pursuing a “deliberate policy to dismantle Gaza’s healthcare system.”

Meanwhile, on Sunday, Israeli tank shelling in Nuseirat, central Gaza, killed at least 22 Palestinians and wounded 80 others. The attack hit a school that was being used as a shelter for displaced residents.

Israel’s military campaign has devastated vast sections of Gaza, displacing nearly 90 percent of its population of 2.3 million, with many people forced to flee multiple times.

In northern Gaza, Israeli ground and air forces have imposed a siege on Jabalia, claiming that Hamas fighters are regrouping there. The Jabalia refugee camp has been a recurring target of Israeli forces since the 1948 war linked to the establishment of Israel.

This latest strike on Jabalia follows Israeli orders for the complete evacuation of northern Gaza, including Gaza City. Despite these orders, an estimated 400,000 Palestinians remain in the area. The United Nations reports that no food supplies have reached northern Gaza since October 1.

The Israeli military also confirmed that hospitals were included in the evacuation orders, though no specific timeline was provided, and coordination efforts were reportedly ongoing to facilitate patient transfers.

However, Fares Abu Hamza, an official from Gaza’s Health Ministry, told the Associated Press that many bodies remain uncollected from streets and rubble in northern Gaza. “We cannot retrieve them,” he said, adding that some remains had been scavenged by dogs.

Israel’s aggressive military operations in Gaza have continued since the cross-border Hamas attack on October 7 of last year, despite a United Nations Security Council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire. According to local health authorities, the death toll has surpassed 42,200, primarily women and children, with approximately 98,400 people injured.