Warning: This article contains sensitive and distressing content.
Eyewitness accounts from a devastating Israeli air strike on a tent camp at a Gaza hospital reveal scenes of chaos and tragedy as flames engulf displaced individuals. Survivors have expressed their horror at the injuries and fatalities witnessed during the attack.
A mother described the scene as “one of the worst we’ve ever seen,” while an injured girl recounted the desperate cries for help as residents attempted to rescue those trapped by the flames. A man expressed his despair, sharing that he felt “helpless” as he witnessed people perish in the fire.
The strike occurred early Monday morning at the al-Aqsa Hospital compound in Deir al-Balah, igniting a fire that consumed makeshift shelters for those displaced by the ongoing conflict.
According to the Hamas-run health ministry, at least four fatalities and numerous injuries reported predominantly involve women and children.
Footage verified from the scene depicts chaotic efforts to put out the flames amid explosions, with visual evidence showcasing the terrifying ordeal faced by civilians.
The Israeli military claims that the air strike targeted Hamas militants allegedly operating from a command center in the vicinity but stated that the situation is under review.
International humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders stated they were unaware of any militant operations at the hospital, emphasizing its primary function as a healthcare facility.
The UN’s humanitarian office condemned the incident, with statements highlighting the urgent need for an end to such atrocities. A spokesperson for the White House National Security Council remarked on the “disturbing” footage and reiterated Israel’s responsibility to protect civilian lives, with the latest event raising serious concerns regarding the safety of non-combatants in the region.
Witnesses described the attack occurring around 01:15 local time on Monday, targeting an area filled with makeshift shelters adjacent to an empty outpatient waiting area.
Residents, including Hiba Radi who lived in a tent behind the hospital, recounted waking up to the sounds of explosions and resulting fires, stating they could not discern the source of the devastation.
Another resident, Atia Darwish, who documented the aftermath, reported being overwhelmed by shock at the destruction unfolding before him.
Um Yaser Abdel Hamid Daher described the trauma of witnessing multiple burn victims, while emphasizing their family’s loss of shelter and possessions due to the strike.
The local health ministry’s reports indicate at least 40 injuries and four fatalities from the incident, though Doctors Without Borders later reported an updated toll of five deceased and 65 injured, with many victims suffering severe burn injuries.
Medical professionals on the scene expressed concern for burn victims’ survival, describing the horrific impact of the attack and the lingering emotional toll it leaves on caregivers.
This incident marks the seventh air strike on the hospital site since March, signaling an alarming pattern of escalation within the region. Observations from the site revealed destroyed belongings and debris as families sift through the remnants of their lives.
Humanitarian officials remarked on the lack of safe havens in Gaza, reiterating the urgent need for concerted global efforts to address the ongoing humanitarian crisis.
