{{Short description|Hospital in Gaza Strip, Palestine}} {{for-multi|airstrikes against the Gaza European Hospital|2025 Gaza European Hospital strikes|attacks on health facilities during the Gaza war|Attacks on health facilities during the Gaza war}} {{pp-extended|small=yes}} {{Infobox hospital | name = European Gaza Hospital<br>مستشفى غزة الاوروبي | org_group = | logo = | logo_size = | logo_alt = | image = | image_size = 225 | alt = | caption = | coordinates = {{coord|31|18|14.44|N|34|19|11.48|E|type:landmark_region:PS|display=inline,title}} | location = Al-Fukhari | region = Gaza Strip | state = | country = Palestine | healthcare = <!-- UK: NHS; AU/CA: Medicare; ELSE free-form text, e.g. Private --> | funding = UNRWA | type = hospital | religious_affiliation = | affiliation = | patron = | network = | standards = | emergency = | beds = | speciality = | helipad = | h1-number = | h1-length-f = | h1-length-m = | h1-surface = <!-- up to h12 --> | former_names = | constructed = 1989 | opened = <!-- cite in article as well --> | closed = | demolished = | website = <!-- {{URL|www.example.com}} --> | other_links = | module = }} The '''European Hospital''' ({{Langx|ar|مستشفى غزة الاوروبي}}) is a public hospital in Al-Fukhari near Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip, Palestine. It was founded by the UNRWA with a grant from the European Union in 1989.
Initial construction costs for the 232-bed European Hospital were estimated at $45 million. The goal was providing primary and secondary healthcare for Gaza residents.<ref>{{cite book | first=Rex |last=Brynen | title=A Very Political Economy: Peacebuilding and Foreign Aid in the West Bank and Gaza | publisher=United States Institute of Peace Press | year=2000 | page=196 |isbn=9781929223046 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AQhxlSjmDcQC&pg=PA196 }}</ref> The hospital was still under construction in 1999.<ref>{{cite book | editor-first=Ishac | editor-last=Diwan | editor-link=Ishac Diwan | editor2-first=Radwan A. | editor2-last=Shaban | title=Development Under Adversity: The Palestinian Economy in Transition | author-first=Mustafa | author-last=Barghouthi | author-link=Mustafa Barghouti | author2-first=Jean | author2-last=Lennock | author3-first=Radwan A. | author3-last=Shaban | chapter=Managing the Growth of the Health Sector | year=1999 | publisher=The World Bank | page=174 | url=https://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/939611468780603809/pdf/multi-page.pdf }}</ref>
In 2019, the hospital served an estimated 17,500 patients a month. It is one of the three main referral hospitals in the Gaza Strip. According to a United Nations Development Programme report, the hospital provides laboratory services, imaging services (CT, MRI, X-ray), intensive care units, and specialised surgeries.<ref name="UNPDsolar">{{cite web |date=June 2019 |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 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231214111323/https://www.undp.org/sites/g/files/zskgke326/files/migration/ps/UNDP-papp-research-SEHReport.pdf |archive-date=14 December 2023 |access-date=18 October 2023 |website=UNPD.org |publisher=United Nations Development Programme |pages=31–32}}</ref> The hospital is located next to the Palestine College of Nursing.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Palestine College of Nursing: Documenting the destruction of the education sector in the Gaza Strip |url=https://gazaeducationsector.palestine-studies.org/en/node/3516 |access-date=2025-05-03 |website=Palestine Studies}}</ref>
==Gaza war== On 31 October 2023, Israeli air raids targeted the vicinity of the European Hospital.<ref name="Najjar">{{Cite web | author-first=Joseph | author-last=Stepansky | author2-first=Farah | author2-last=Najjar |title=Dozens killed in Israeli air attack on refugee camp, Gaza officials say |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2023/10/31/israel-hamas-war-live-israeli-air-attacks-continue-across-gaza |access-date=2023-10-31 |website=Al Jazeera |language=en}}</ref> On 13 November Tom Potokar, chief Red Crescent surgeon at the hospital, wrote on Twitter that he was treating many patients for shrapnel wounds.<ref>{{cite web |title=Surgeon Dr. Tom Potokar shares on the situation from European Hospital, Gaza. |url=https://twitter.com/ICRC/status/1724163278572597395?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1724163278572597395%7Ctwgr%5E78a7cd78ba86ee0532e86d8148dc1907f48297a9%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.aljazeera.com%2Fnews%2Fliveblog%2F2023%2F11%2F13%2Fisrael-hamas-war-live-gazas-two-largest-hospitals-shut-amid-nonstop-raids |website=X |publisher=International Committee of the Red Cross |access-date=13 November 2023 |archive-date=13 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231113235546/https://twitter.com/ICRC/status/1724163278572597395?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1724163278572597395%7Ctwgr%5E78a7cd78ba86ee0532e86d8148dc1907f48297a9%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2023/11/13/israel-hamas-war-live-gazas-two-largest-hospitals-shut-amid-nonstop-raids |url-status=live }}</ref>
On 19 November, after the Al-Shifa Hospital siege ended with Israeli forces controlling Al-Shifa Hospital, the World Health Organization stated it was planning missions to transport the remaining Al-Shifa patients to the European Hospital and Nasser Medical Complex in the next 2–3 days.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Diaz |first1=Jaclyn |title=31 premature babies are evacuated from Al-Shifa Hospital to southern Gaza |url=https://www.npr.org/2023/11/19/1214024420/gaza-israel-al-shifa-hospital-evacuation |website=NPR |access-date=19 November 2023}}</ref> On 23 November, the head of the Medical Emergency Rescue Committee at the Indonesia Hospital stated that patients and staff at Indonesia Hospital had been evacuated to the European Hospital.<ref>{{cite web | author-first=Léonie | author-last=Chao-Fong | author2-first=Maya | author2-last=Yang | author3-first=Martin | author3-last=Belam | author4-first=Helen | author4-last=Livingstone | date=23 November 2023 | title=Al Jazeera is reporting that the Indonesia hospital in Gaza has been evacuated. |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2023/nov/23/israel-hamas-war-live-updates-gaza-ceasefire-hostage-release-friday-israeli-us-officials?page=with:block-655f215c8f08918b63c91f65&filterKeyEvents=false |website=The Guardian |access-date=23 November 2023}}</ref>
In May 2024, foreign healthcare workers serving at European Hospital were trapped inside Gaza when Israel seized control of the Rafah Border crossing.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Haydar |first=Nour |last2=Doherty |first2=Ben |date=2024-05-20 |title=Australian doctor trapped in Gaza hospital begs government to evacuate medical team |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/may/21/australian-doctor-modher-albeiruti-trapped-gaza-hospital-khan-younis-rafah |access-date=2024-09-21 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> US Senator Tammy Duckworth advocated for the evacuation of one of the stranded doctors, Adam Hamawy, whom she credited with saving her life after she was injured in Iraq. Hamawy spoke to ''The Washington Post'' about the supply shortages and the many wounded children he had been treating in European Hospital.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bellware |first=Kim |date=2024-05-17 |title=American doctors in Gaza see up-close toll of war weapons on children |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/05/17/tammy-duckworth-adam-hamawy/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240518153237/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/05/17/tammy-duckworth-adam-hamawy/ |archive-date=2024-05-18 |access-date=2024-09-21 |work=Washington Post |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}}</ref>
In July 2024, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) ordered an evacuation of the area where the European Hospital is located, later releasing a statement that the hospital was not included in the order.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Khadder |first=Kareem |last2=Salman |first2=Abeer |last3=Schwartz |first3=Michael |last4=Stambaugh |first4=Alex |date=2024-07-02 |title=Israeli military orders new evacuations in southern Gaza, prompting evacuation of European Hospital |url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/02/middleeast/israeli-military-orders-evacuations-in-southern-gaza-intl/index.html |access-date=2024-09-21 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref> Staff, patients, and displaced people left the hospital with difficulty due to the condition of the roads and some of the patients.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2024-07-02 |title=Why Israel ordered yet another evacuation of Gaza's Khan Younis |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/7/2/why-israel-ordered-yet-another-evacuation-of-gazas-khan-younis |access-date=2024-09-21 |website=Al Jazeera |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Hurwitz |first=Sophie |title=Inside one of the last hospitals in Gaza |url=https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2024/08/gaza-european-hospital-doctor-palestine-israel-war/ |access-date=2024-09-21 |website=Mother Jones |language=en-US}}</ref> Many evacuated to Nasser Hospital.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Supply shortages and patient influxes leave Nasser hospital at breaking point |url=https://www.msf.org/supply-shortages-and-patient-influxes-leave-nasser-hospital-breaking-point |access-date=2024-09-21 |website=MSF |language=en}}</ref> While it was closed, many supplies were stolen.<ref name="politico20240719"/><ref name="motherjones20240920">{{Cite web |last=Hurwitz |first=Sophie |title=One of the only hospitals in Gaza just reopened |url=https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2024/09/gaza-european-hospital-reopen-israel-palestine/ |access-date=2024-09-21 |website=Mother Jones |language=en-US}}</ref> The hospital re-opened in September with limited capacity.<ref name="motherjones20240920" />
Several foreign doctors have volunteered at European Hospital and spoken to the press about their experiences there.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-07-24 |title=Inside Gaza's destroyed healthcare system: 'Patients scream for their loved ones' |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/gaza-war-israel-hospital-doctor-b2576536.html |access-date=2024-09-21 |website=The Independent |language=en}}</ref> According to Dr. Mark Perlmutter and Dr. Feroze Sidwa, they had never before witnessed "cruelty like Israel's genocide in Gaza", despite serving on multiple humanitarian missions in developing countries, natural disasters, and war zones.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Opinion {{!}} As Surgeons, We Have Never Seen Cruelty Like Israel's Genocide in Gaza |url=https://www.commondreams.org/opinion/surgeons-cruelty-israel-gaza |access-date=2024-09-21 |website=Common Dreams |language=en}}</ref><ref name="politico20240719">{{Cite news |date=2024-07-19 |title=We Volunteered at a Gaza Hospital. What We Saw Was Unspeakable. |url=https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2024/07/19/gaza-hospitals-surgeons-00167697 |work=Politico}}</ref> Perlmutter has reported that 90% of the emergency room patients he encountered were children and that some appeared to have been deliberately targeted by IDF snipers.<ref name="cnn20240726">{{Cite web |last=Akbarzai |first=Sahar |date=2024-07-26 |title='We cannot remain silent about what we saw.' US medical workers demand Gaza ceasefire in letter to Biden and Harris |url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/26/world/open-letter-45-us-physicians-gaza/index.html |access-date=2024-09-21 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref><ref name="politico20240719" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Tracy |date=2024-07-21 |title=Children of Gaza |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/children-of-gaza/ |access-date=2024-09-21 |website=CBS News |language=en-US}}</ref> In July 2024, 45 doctors, including Perlmutter and Sidwa, wrote an open letter to Joe Biden and Kamala Harris to advocate for a ceasefire and arms embargo.<ref name="cnn20240726" />
On 13 May 2025, the hospital compound was targeted by several Israeli airstrikes, killing 26 people and injuring dozens.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2025/5/14/live-israel-attacks-gaza-hospitals-as-trump-says-working-to-end-war-soon?update=3709326|title=Israel’s latest attacks on Gaza hospitals killed at least 28 people|date=13 May 2025|website=Al Jazeera}}</ref> The IDF and Shin Bet said that the strike targeted Hamas militants including Hamas leader Muhammed Sinwar.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Peleg |first=Bar |date=13 May 2025 |title=IDF targets Hamas Gaza leader Mohammed Sinwar in strike on European Hospital in Khan Yunis |url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2025-05-13/ty-article/.premium/idf-targets-hamas-gaza-leader-mohamed-sinwar-in-strike-on-european-hospital-in-khan-yunis/00000196-ca8d-df59-abde-eaad0fde0000 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250513175744/https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2025-05-13/ty-article/.premium/idf-targets-hamas-gaza-leader-mohamed-sinwar-in-strike-on-european-hospital-in-khan-yunis/00000196-ca8d-df59-abde-eaad0fde0000 |archive-date=13 May 2025 |access-date=13 May 2025 |work=Haaretz |language=en |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-05-22 |title=BBC Verify investigates Israel's strike on Gaza's European Hospital |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/videos/c4g28z483eko |access-date=2025-05-22 |website=BBC Verify|language=en-GB}}</ref> The London-based newspaper ''Asharq Al-Awsat'' reported that "the location did in fact contain a tunnel system previously damaged in the 2014 war."<ref name="Aawsat20250515">{{cite web |date=May 15, 2025|title=Elusive Assassination Target, 'Shadow Unit' Founder: Who Is Mohammed al-Sinwar? |url=https://english.aawsat.com/arab-world/5143295-elusive-assassination-target-%E2%80%98shadow-unit%E2%80%99-founder-who-mohammed-al-sinwar |access-date=2025-05-18 |website=english.aawsat.com |language=en}}</ref> The IDF published a video showing the tunnels beneath the hospital.<ref>{{cite news |title=IDF releases video from Hamas tunnel under Gaza hospital where Muhammad Sinwar was killed |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/idf-releases-video-from-hamas-tunnel-under-gaza-hospital-where-mohammed-sinwar-was-killed/ |access-date=7 June 2025 |publisher=The Times of Israel |date=7 June 2025}}</ref> On 28 May 2025, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Sinwar had been killed.<ref>{{cite news |title=Netanyahu says Hamas Gaza chief Mohammed Sinwar has been eliminated |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/netanyahu-says-hamas-gaza-chief-mohammed-sinwar-has-been-eliminated-2025-05-28/ |date=2025-05-28 |access-date=2025-05-28 |work=Reuters}}</ref> On 31 May 2025, the IDF and Shin Bet confirmed that Sinwar had been killed.<ref>{{cite web |last=Zitun |first=Yoav |title=IDF confirms killing of top Hamas commander Mohammed Sinwar in Khan Younis strike |url=https://www.ynetnews.com/article/by62chomel |website=Ynetnews |date=May 31, 2025 |access-date=May 31, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Israeli military says it killed Hamas military leader Mohammed Sinwar on May 13 |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israeli-military-says-it-killed-hamas-military-leader-mohammed-sinwar-may-13-2025-05-31/ |website=Reuters |date=May 31, 2025 |access-date=May 31, 2025}}</ref> On 8 June 2025, the IDF said it had found Sinwar's body in an "underground passageway beneath the European Hospital" in Khan Yunis.<ref>{{Cite web |first1=Usaid |last1=Siddiqui |first2=Stephen |last2=Quillen |first3=Farah |last3=Najjar |first4=Joseph |last4=Stepansky |title=Israel says it finds Mohammed Sinwar’s body in Gaza |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2025/6/8/live-israel-kills-5-wounds-70-seeking-aid-in-gaza-in-latest-mass-shooting?update=3761137 |access-date=8 June 2025 |website=Al Jazeera |language=en}}</ref> On 31 August, Hamas confirmed Sinwar's death without providing further details.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2025-08-30 |title=Hamas confirms death of its military leader Mohammed Sinwar |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/hamas-confirms-death-its-military-leader-mohammed-sinwar-2025-08-30/ |access-date=2025-08-31 |work=Reuters |language=en}}</ref>
On 7 June 2025, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) released footage of tunnels beneath a hospital in Gaza.<ref>{{cite news |title=N12 - כך נראית מנהרת הענק מתחת לביה"ח בח'אן יונס – שבה חוסל... |url=https://www.mako.co.il/news-military/f239747af17c5910/Article-37e713de81b4791026.htm |work=N12 |date=7 June 2025}}</ref> This claim was rejected by the Government Media Office in Gaza on 8 June 2025.<ref>{{cite news |title=Gaza media office denies Israeli claim of tunnel under European Hospital |url=https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/gaza-media-office-denies-israeli-claim-tunnel-under-european-hospital |work=Middle East Eye |date=8 June 2025 |language=en}}</ref>
Following this rejection, the IDF organized a controlled tour for selected media outlets, marking the first visit by Western journalists to Gaza in several months. According to the IDF, access to the tunnel was delayed because “we had to ventilate it for a few days before allowing anyone down there,” citing the buildup of gases from decomposing bodies.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bodkin |first1=Henry |title=Inside the tunnel where a Hamas leader took his last breath |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/06/08/inside-khan-younis-tunnel-gaza-european-hospital-sinwar/ |work=The Telegraph |date=8 June 2025}}</ref> The BBC, which was not included in the controlled media tour, reported through its BBC Verify unit that although they identified a recently excavated hole near the hospital's accident and emergency entrance, they could not independently verify whether the tunnels and associated rooms were indeed located beneath the hospital. The BBC also requested unedited video footage without cuts, but the IDF did not provide it.<ref>{{cite news |title=BBC Verify examines tunnels video as IDF says Hamas leader body found |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/videos/cql2wvnn7zgo |work=www.bbc.com |date=9 June 2025}}</ref>
On 17 June 2025, the IDF announced that it had sealed the tunnel by pouring approximately 250 cubic meters of concrete into it.<ref>{{cite web |title=Our war against Iranian proxies is on all fronts: |url=https://x.com/IDF/status/1934877412904370579 |publisher=IDF |access-date=20 June 2025}}</ref>
== See also == * List of hospitals in the State of Palestine * Attacks on health facilities during the Gaza war
== References == {{reflist}}
Category:1989 establishments in Palestine Category:Hospitals in Khan Yunis Category:Palestine–European Union relations