{{pp-extended|small=yes}} {{Short description|Hospital in Gaza}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2025}} {{Infobox hospital | name = Shuhada al-Aqsa Hospital | org_group = <!-- optional --> | image = Shuhada al-Aqsa Hospital emergency department entrance, 2024.jpg | caption = The hospital in January 2024 | pushpin_map = | logo = <!-- optional --> | location = [[Deir al-Balah]] | region = Deir al-Balah Governorate, [[Gaza Strip]] | state = <!-- optional UK: England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland. US: The US State --> | country = [[Palestine]] | coordinates = {{Coord|31|25|11.89|N|34|21| 36|E|type:landmark_region:PS|display=inline,title}} | healthcare = | type = Treatment | speciality = <!-- if devoted to a speciality, i.e. not if has broad spectrum of specialities --> | standards = <!-- optional if no national standards --> | emergency = <!-- UK/IR/HK/SG: Yes/No, CA/US: I/II/III for Trauma certification level --> | affiliation = <!-- Medical School and University affiliations (medical or paramedical) --> | beds = | founded = 2001 | closed = <!-- optional --> }}
'''Shuhada al-Aqsa Hospital''' ({{Langx|ar|مستشفى شهداء الأقصى الحكومي|translit=Mustashfaa shuhada' al'aqsaa alhukumii|lit=al-Aqsa Martyrs Governmental Hospital}}) is a hospital in [[Deir al-Balah]], [[Gaza Strip]], [[Palestine]].
Shuhada was founded in 2001. As of 2018, it was one of fifteen public hospitals in the Gaza Strip.
It is managed by [[UNRWA]], [[Gaza Health Ministry|The Ministry of Health]] and various NGOs. The hospital served an estimated 18,000 patients each month until recently.{{Clarify|reason=Until how recent?|date=April 2024}} According to The Ministry of Health, the hospital's emergency department had over 11,000 visits.<ref>{{Cite journal |title=Solar Electrification of the Health System in the Gaza Strip: Opportunities & Challenges |url=https://www.undp.org/sites/g/files/zskgke326/files/migration/ps/UNDP-papp-research-SEHReport.pdf |journal=United Nations Development Programme |pages=8,30 |via=United Nations}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |title=KASR al-HAYR al-GHARBI |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/1573-3912_islam_sim_3995 |access-date=2023-12-05 |website=Encyclopaedia of Islam, Second Edition|doi=10.1163/1573-3912_islam_sim_3995 |url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-02-21 |title=Letter to Israel Military Advocate General Re: Attacks on Health Facilities {{!}} Human Rights Watch |url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2017/02/21/letter-israel-military-advocate-general-re-attacks-health-facilities |access-date=2023-12-05 |language=en}}</ref> In 2018, the hospital had 166 beds.<ref>{{Cite journal |date=August 2018 |title=Health Facilities in the Gaza Strip |url=https://healthclusteropt.org/admin/file_manager/uploads/files/1/5be175905d6d0.pdf |journal=Health Cluster Occupied Palestinian Territory |pages=1}}</ref>
== History == Caught in the ongoing [[Israeli–Palestinian conflict]], the hospital has both been targeted and faced repercussions of nearby targeting from the [[Israel Defense Forces|IDF]]. In 2014, several shells hit the hospital's intensive care unit in an IDF bombing campaign that was targeting anti-tank missiles in the area. Four [[Palestinians]] were killed, and an estimated forty others were injured.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2014-07-21 |title=Gaza conflict: Five dead at hospital hit by Israeli strike |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-28399292 |access-date=2023-12-05}}</ref> During the [[Gaza war]], the hospital faced immense overcrowding.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Rankin |first1=Frances |last2=Doran |first2=Temujin |last3=Lamborn |first3=Katie |date=2023-10-24 |title=24 hours in a Gaza hospital pushed to the brink |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/oct/24/24-hours-in-a-gaza-hospital-pushed-to-the-brink |access-date=2023-12-05 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-02 |title=Following an Israeli airstrike, crowded Gaza hospital struggles to treat wounded children |url=https://apnews.com/article/israel-gaza-airstrikes-war-unwra-bureij-palestinians-748552843cac672ee2b82571695d6ab1 |access-date=2023-12-05 |website=AP News |language=en}}</ref> IDF airstrikes in [[Deir al-Balah]] and around the hospital resulted in hundreds of deaths and injuries.<ref>{{Cite AV media |title=Doctors at Al Aqsa Martyrs Hospital Emergency Department describe "bloody day" |publisher=CNN |date=2023-10-23 |type=News |url=https://www.cnn.com/videos/world/2023/10/23/exp-gaza-hospital-mclean-pkg-102209pseg2-cnni-world.cnn |access-date=2023-12-05 |language=en}}</ref>
===Gaza war=== {{see also|Al-Aqsa Hospital massacre}} {{Excerpt|Gaza humanitarian crisis (2023–present)#Al-Aqsa Hospital}} [[File:Injured Palestinians receive medical treatment at Al-Aqsa Martyrs hospital after an Israeli airstrike in Deir el-Balah, Gaza.jpg|thumb|Injured Palestinians receive medical treatment at Al-Aqsa Martyrs hospital after an Israeli airstrike in [[Deir al-Balah|Deir el-Balah]], Gaza on 7 January 2024.]] [[File:Israeli bombing of the tents of the displaced in Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, Deir el-Balah, Gaza Strip.jpg|thumb|The remains of bombed tents in the hospital courtyard in August 2024]] In June 2024, the situation at the hospital was said to be "something above emergency", as the hospital ran out of fuel.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Mahmoud |first1=Hani |title=Al-Aqsa Hospital overwhelmed with problems |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/6/7/israels-war-on-gaza-live-hospital-barely-coping-with-dead-and-wounded?update=2958503 |website=Al Jazeera |date=7 June 2024 |access-date=16 June 2024}}</ref> In July 2024, an Israeli airstrike destroyed a media tent outside the hospital.<ref>{{cite web |title=Israeli air attack strikes media tent outside Al-Aqsa Hospital |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/program/newsfeed/2024/7/22/israeli-air-attack-strikes-media-tent-outside-al-aqsa-hospital |website=Al Jazeera |date=22 July 2024 |access-date=3 August 2024}}</ref> In August 2024, at least four Palestinians including a woman were killed and 18 were injured in an Israeli bombing of tents used by displaced people in the courtyard of the hospital.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rowlands |first=Lyndal |last2=Rasheed |first2=Zaheena |last3=Pietromarchi |first3=Virginia |date=2024-08-04 |title=Al-Aqsa Hospital bombed |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/8/4/israels-war-on-gaza-live-body-parts-everywhere-as-israel-bombs-shelter/ |access-date=2024-08-04 |website=Al Jazeera |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-08-04 |title=Strike on Gaza kills 4 and stabbing in Israel kills 2 as fears of wider war spike across the Mideast |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/08/04/israel-palestinians-hamas-war-news-08-04-2024/d0c2c666-5224-11ef-9728-3037305a6b0f_story.html |access-date=2024-08-04 |work=Washington Post |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286 |quote=Gaza’s Health Ministry does not differentiate between civilians and militants in its tallies.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://apnews.com/video/israel-hamas-war-fires-gaza-30ef1765d20f48478f0ca9d5ffca58d8 |title=Strike hits a tent camp in the courtyard of Al Aqsa Martyrs hospital in central Gaza |type=News |publisher=Associated Press |language=en |access-date=2024-08-04}}</ref> These displaced people had moved into the courtyard following the bombing of a nearby evacuation shelter in late-July 2024.<ref>{{cite web |title=Chaotic scenes as casualties rushed to Deir el-Balah hospital |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPrWSql_Xyg |website=YouTube |publisher=Al Jazeera English |access-date=18 August 2024}}</ref> At this point, the Al Aqsa Hospital was one of the last remaining hospitals operating in Gaza.<ref>{{cite web |last1=El-Naggar |first1=Mona |last2=Kerr |first2=Sarah |last3=Laffin |first3=Ben |last4=Rhyne |first4=Emily |title=Inside One of the Last Functioning Hospitals in Gaza |url=https://www.nytimes.com/video/world/middleeast/100000009577656/gaza-doctor-hospitals.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare&sgrp=c-cb |website=The New York Times |access-date=17 August 2024}}</ref> In late-August, patients fled the hospital following an evacuation order from the Israeli military.<ref>{{cite web |title=Palestinian Patients flee Deir el-Balah’s Al-Aqsa Hospital following Israeli evacuation order |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kewEx-xu-8M |website=YouTube |publisher=Al Jazeera English |access-date=9 September 2024}}</ref> In September 2024, the hospital warned that supply shortages were putting it at risk of shutting down.<ref>{{cite web |title=Central Gaza hospital warns of imminent shutdown due to supply shortages |url=https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/central-gaza-hospital-warns-imminent-shutdown-due-supply-shortages?nid=394896&topic=Israel%2527s%2520war%2520on%2520Gaza&fid=531331#:~:text=Central%20Gaza%20hospital%20warns%20of%20imminent%20shutdown%20due%20to%20supply%20shortages,-21%20September%202024&text=Al%2DAqsa%20Martyrs%20Hospital%20issued,of%20oil%20and%20generator%20parts. |website=Middle East Eye |access-date=22 September 2024}}</ref>
====October 2024==== On the night of Sunday, October 13, 2024, Israeli warplanes targeted Shuhada al-Aqsa Hospital in the heart of Gaza, igniting a massive fire. Many Palestinians were asleep at the time. According to reports, the charred remains of victims are unidentifiable. Medical teams managed to rescue some women and children, but they sustained severe burns. The [[White House]] stated that the images and videos depicting Palestinian refugees burning alive as a result of this Israeli attack are profoundly disturbing and horrifying.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hernandez |first1=Michael Gabriel |title=White House says imagery of Gazans burning alive after Israeli strike is 'horrifying' |url=https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/white-house-says-imagery-of-gazans-burning-alive-after-israeli-strike-is-horrifying/3362035 |website=Anadolu Ajansı}}</ref> According to Israeli intelligence officials, the bombing targeted Hamas terrorists who have used the hospital (as other hospitals) for military purposes.
[[Killing of Shaban al-Dalou|Shaban al-Dalou]]{{efn|first name also spelled Sha'ban<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.democracynow.org/2024/10/18/sha_ban_al_dalou | title="I Could Be the Next Sha'ban": 21-Year-Old Journalist from Gaza Reports on Teenager Burned Alive | work=Democracy Now! | date=18 October 2024 }}</ref>}} was a 19-year-old software engineering student and Palestinian refugee living in the heart of Gaza. He shared images depicting the plight of Palestinian refugees and released videos showcasing the wounded at Shuhada al-Aqsa Hospital, highlighting their urgent need for blood donations. Shaban and his mother were burned alive in a fire caused by Israeli bombing on October 13.<ref>{{cite web |title=Shaban al-Dalou: The Palestinian teen burned to death in Israeli bombing |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/10/15/shaban-al-dalou-the-palestinian-teen-burned-to-death-in-israeli-bombing |website=aljazeera |date=15 October 2024}}</ref>
== See also == * [[List of hospitals in the State of Palestine]] * [[Deir al-Balah]]
== Notes == {{Notelist}}
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == *{{commons category inline}}
[[Category:2001 establishments in Palestine]] [[Category:Deir al-Balah]] [[Category:Hospitals established in 2001]] [[Category:Hospitals in Palestine]]