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Partially functional
Al Helou International Hospital
Facility Type
Speciality Hospital
Ownership type
Private sector
Governorates / District
Gaza
Address
Al-Nasr area – Omar bin Abdul Aziz Street and Al-Nasr Street, opposite the UNDP headquarters
Founding Year
1995
Facility director
Tharwat Al-Helou
Beds Capacity
6
List of medical specialties and services
Radiology
Obstetrics, Gynecology and IVF
Orthopedics
Reception and emergency
Outpatients
Surgery department
Oncology
Inpatient department
Description (About the Facility)

The Helou International Specialty Hospital is a private hospital in northwest Gaza City, managed by Dr. Tharwat Yousef Helou. The clinic was founded in 1995 and opened as a hospital in 2017, spanning an area of 600 square meters and with a clinical capacity in 2022 of six beds[1].

Since early 2023, the hospital has received referrals from the Ministry of Health for patients who require hematology and oncology chemotherapy.

The chairman of the board of directors, Dr. El Helou, is a consultant in obstetrics, gynecology, and IVF. The hospital offers several specialized services, the most important of which are oncology treatment and transplants in the infertility and IVF clinic.

In 2013, the hospital announced the "Charity and Procreation for Allah Almighty" campaign and sponsored treatment, fertilization, and embryo transplants for 500 cases. That same year, the hospital implanted embryos for eight wives of prisoners in occupation prisons in response to a campaign by the Hussam Foundation for Prisoners and Liberators and the mothers of prisoners[2].

Similar campaigns that provided free fertility treatments have been held, including the "We, with God's help, care for you" campaign in 2018, and the free fertility campaign in 2022 and 2023[3][4][5].

The hospital provides more than 50 IVF procedures for free annually[6].

In 2021: The ENT clinic was opened[6].

 

Funding Details
The Helou International Specialty Hospital’s IVF center has successfully raised significant funds over the years for people who cannot afford treatment, through the Insani Foundation. The hospital also annually funds more than 200 patients free of charge from its profits[7].
narrative during this war

October 2023: Al-Shifa Medical Complex in Gaza City redirected its obstetrics service to the Helou International Specialty Hospital, due to Al-Shifa Hospital receiving large numbers of wounded and displaced people, overwhelming the hospital[8][9].

On November 1, 2023: Occupation forces bomb the hospital after it absorbed and replaced the maternity department from Al-Shifa Hospital[10]

On November 14, 2023: Local news outlets reported that occupation tanks surround more than 100 patients and medical staff at the hospital[11][12].The director of the hospital told Al Jazeera that the hospital did not have water or fuel and that contaminated rainwater was being used for sterilization[13].

On November 16, 2023: Local news outlets report that the hospital was out of service[14].

On December 26, 2023: UNOCHA reported that medical relief teams were able to provide medical equipment and fuel to the hospital[15].

On December 30, 2023: UNOCHA reported that the Ministry of Health in Gaza was able to restart some services at the hospital[16].

On January 13, 2024: Teams from the World Health Organization were able to access the hospital and delivered medical equipment and fuel[17].

On March 20, 2024: The occupation forces bombed the hospital[18].

On July 8, 2024: WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus posted on the X social media platform (Twitter) that the hospital was located in the areas that the occupation forces threatened to evacuate, but the hospital continued to operate partially[19].

On July 15, 2024: The WHO reported that the hospital reduced its operational capacity due to the occupation’s military operation in its vicinity. The hospital's intensive care units and surgical operations were suspended, and services resumed after the withdrawal of military forces[20].

The main targeting and assaults During the genocide

Bombing of Al-Helou International Hospital

Occupation forces bomb the hospital after it absorbed and replaced the maternity department from Al-Shifa Hospital.

Siege of Al-Helou International Hospital

Local news outlets reported that occupation tanks surround more than 100 patients and medical staff at the hospital. The director of the hospital told Al Jazeera that the hospital did not have water or fuel and that contaminated rainwater was being used for sterilization.

Al-Helou International Hospital goes out of service

Local news outlets report that the hospital was out of service.

Partial resumption of services at Al-Helou International Hospital

UNOCHA reported that the Ministry of Health in Gaza was able to restart some services at the hospital.

Bombing of Al-Helou International Hospital
Sources
  1. Mostakel, Website.
  2. Ma'an News Agency, Press report.
  3. Amad, Report (Link not found/Removed).
  4. Al-Helou International Hospital, Facebook. 
  5. Al-Helou International Hospital, Facebook.
  6. Al-Helou International Hospital, Facebook.
  7. Insani Charity Foundation, Website.
  8. Al Jazeera Media Network , Press report.
  9. Al Jazeera Media Network, Press Report.
  10. Masrawy News Portal, Press Report.
  11. Activist Hamza Al-Masry, Telegram.
  12. Al Jazeera Media Network, X, formerly Twitter.
  13. L'Orient Le Jour, quoted from Al Jazeera, News release.  
  14.  Activist Hamza Al-Masry, Telegram.
  15. United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Report.   
  16. United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Report.
  17. United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Report.
  18. Activist Hamza Al-Masry, Telegram.
  19. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Platform X, formerly Twitter.
  20. World Health Organization, Report.
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