Without supplies and under bombing, health professionals face the horror of war to save lives at the Nasser Hospital, one of the last in operation
Doctors Without Borders (MSF) vehemently condemns Israel’s attack to Nasser Hospital in Khan Youis, southern Gaza, Palestine, which is the largest hospital in operation in the Gaza Strip, where MSF teams work. Last Sunday (23), Israeli forces attacked the hospital’s surgical department of hospitalization, killing two people, according to the Ministry of Health. MSF teams confirmed that there were several people injured, one of which was admitted to our trauma unit, and that serious damage was caused to the building.
This attack demonstrates a total disrespect for the protection of medical facilities, in danger and medical staff, and the health care provision. While Israeli forces intensify their operations in Gaza once again, MSF calls for respect and protection to health facilities, patients and medical staff in Gaza, where the health system was almost all destroyed.
“Strikes like these are horrible for the team and patients,” says Claire Nicolet, MSF’s emergency head in Gaza. “We cannot return to repeated attacks on health facilities when the health system in Gaza is already hanging by a wire, and no supply has been going on for weeks.”
While Gaza’s health system has collapsed, and people’s medical needs continue to fire, medical professionals are once again forced to fear for their lives while taking care. At Nasser Hospital, two MSF colleagues, who were working in different hospital departments, described panic among patients at the time of the attack.
“The distance between us and the explosion was so close that we could have been hit as well. Our colleagues, medical staff, patients and their caregivers were all terrified.”
MSF nurse working at Nasser Hospital
“The distance between us and the explosion was so close that we could have been hit too,” says a MSF nurse who works in another ward at Nasser Hospital and was around when the attack happened. “Our colleagues, medical staff, patients and their caregivers were all terrified.”
During the Israel War in Gaza, MSF witnessed relentless attacks on health facilities, a complete disrespect to patients, medical professionals and international humanitarian law, resulting in the systematic dismantling of the Gaza Health System. No hospital in the Gaza Strip is currently fully functional, and only 21 of the 36 Enclave hospitals are operating partially, according to the World Health Organization.
As one of the last main hospitals in southern Gaza, Nasser Hospital is providing care for people with serious burns and injuries to trauma, newborns and pregnant women.
Since the return in mid -May 2024, MSF teams have supported the Nasser Hospital Emergency, Pediatrics and Maternity departments, as well as managing a unit of burned and trauma. In February 2024, MSF teams were forced to flee after the hospital was bombarded by Israeli forces.
In addition, Nasser Hospital, such as other health facilities in Gaza, is facing various supply challenges, including hygiene items, medicines and surgical items, while Israeli authorities continue their siege for more than 20 days. Due to the numerous flows of patients from recent bombing, MSF stocks are decreasing faster than expected, and blockade is making it impossible for our teams to repose vital items such as antibiotics, painkillers and anesthetic.
In an incident separated on March 24, MSF teams at the Al-Mawasi Health Clinic were forced to close the emergency room, evacuate the installation and suspend day’s activities due to nearby shootings and bombing. Health facilities, patients and medical staff should be protected.
The MSF once again calls for immediate restoration of the ceasefire and the resumption of essential help and basic supplies, of which people in Gaza need desperately.
With information from MSF*
Source: https://www.ocafezinho.com/2025/03/25/msf-exige-protecao-apos-hospital-ser-bombardeado-em-gaza/
