Horror Unfolds as Israeli Strike Ignites Fire at Gaza Hospital Tent Camp - Video
- Warning: This story contains details which some people may find upsetting
A devastating Israeli air strike at the al-Aqsa Hospital compound in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza, in the early hours of Monday has left at least four people dead and dozens injured, primarily women and children. The strike ignited a fire in a tent camp set up for displaced families, resulting in scenes of horror as people were caught in the flames.
Witness Accounts Paint a Grim Picture
Witnesses described a chaotic and terrifying scene following the strike, which occurred at approximately 1:15 AM local time (23:15 BST Sunday). Hiba Radi, a mother living in one of the tents behind the hospital, recounted waking up to explosions and fires erupting around the makeshift shelters. “This is one of the worst scenes we’ve witnessed,” she said. “The destruction was overwhelming. We’ve never seen anything like this.”
Atia Darwish, a photographer who captured footage of the aftermath, shared his helplessness. “It was a big shock. I was so broken down,” he said, recalling how he could do nothing but watch as people burned.
The injured included members of Um Yaser Abdel Hamid Daher’s family, whose son and grandchildren were hurt in the blaze. Her granddaughter, Lina, an 11-year-old with shrapnel and burn injuries, spoke of the panic and screams that filled the air. “Our neighbor’s daughter was injured, and her father was killed,” Lina said. “The people next to us tore down the tent to get us out.”
Medical Emergency Amid Continued Strikes
The Gaza health ministry initially reported four fatalities and over 40 injuries, while Doctors Without Borders (MSF), which has staff at the hospital, later confirmed that five people had died, their bodies burned beyond recognition, and 65 were injured. Many victims suffered from severe burns, and MSF’s emergency coordinator in Gaza, Anna Halford, noted that the medical staff was treating people “who will almost certainly not survive” due to the extent of their injuries.
The hospital compound has faced repeated strikes, with this latest incident being the seventh since March and the third in just two weeks. The cumulative toll has created an atmosphere of fear and desperation, especially as the compound serves as a refuge for families fleeing conflict in northern Gaza.
Israeli Military Response and International Condemnation
The Israeli military claimed the strike targeted Hamas fighters operating out of a command center in the hospital’s parking lot. It suggested that the fire was likely caused by secondary explosions from the strike. However, MSF disputed the military’s account, asserting that no such command center existed and that the hospital was functioning solely as a medical facility.
The incident has provoked condemnation from international organizations and governments. The United Nations’ humanitarian affairs office labeled the attack an atrocity and called for an immediate halt to the violence. A White House spokesperson described the footage of the fire and the victims as “deeply disturbing” and stressed that Israel must do more to avoid civilian casualties. “The images of civilians burning alive are horrifying,” the spokesperson said, adding that the U.S. had communicated its concerns to the Israeli government.
An Uncertain Future for Gaza’s Displaced Families
The al-Aqsa Hospital strike has further complicated the plight of displaced people in Gaza. Many families who had fled violence in northern regions, heeding evacuation orders, now find themselves with nowhere safe to go. The compound was a temporary sanctuary, but the fire has reduced it to a scene of devastation. Families have lost their shelters and belongings, left to pick through the charred remains for any salvageable items.
Amid calls for a ceasefire, the latest escalation underscores the lack of safe zones in the densely populated Gaza Strip. The acting chief of the U.N.’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs emphasized that “there really is no safe place in Gaza for people to go.”
The al-Aqsa incident has reignited fears of escalating violence and further strikes on civilian areas as tensions between Israel and militant groups in Gaza show no signs of abating.
