Gaza’s Indonesian Hospital may never open again after Israeli destruction

The Indonesian Hospital in northern Gaza, one of the region’s largest healthcare facilities, has sustained extensive damage from Israeli attacks, raising doubts about its reopening. The hospital, located in Beit Lahia, was besieged by Israeli tanks and snipers for several days before being targeted, with the main generator attacked and a raid occurring just before a four-day truce between Israel and Hamas.

The Ministry of Health in Gaza reported on Friday that the hospital faced heavy bombardment, endangering the lives of 200 injured individuals and medical staff. The Israeli army’s intense fire resulted in casualties, including the death of a wounded woman and injuries to at least three others. The hospital now lies in ruins, grappling with a surge in wounded patients amid severe shortages of medical supplies.

Corridors within the hospital have been transformed into makeshift wards, and surgeries are being performed on the floor due to the destruction. Journalists gaining access to the facility described the scene outside as grim, with charred and decomposing bodies, including children, piling up in corners. Burials were hindered as Israeli snipers targeted anyone attempting to dig graves.

Al Jazeera’s Anas al-Sharif, reporting from the hospital, highlighted significant damage caused by the Israeli forces, including the destruction of equipment and supplies. Nurses recounted the horror of the raid and interrogation, with Israeli forces targeting specific areas and subjecting staff to questioning about the resistance and hospital details.

Despite the damage and weeks of the facility being out of service, the fate of the Indonesian Hospital remains uncertain, and it is unclear whether it will ever reopen.