Skip to main content
Non-functional
Al-Ranteesi Al-Naser Paediatric Hospital
Facility Type
Speciality Hospital
Ownership type
Government sector
Governorates / District
Gaza
Address
Al-Nasr area – Al Nasr Main Street
Founding Year
2008
Facility director
Mustafa Al-Kahlot
Beds Capacity
210
Number of workers
519
List of medical specialties and services
Child health
Physiotherapy
Emergency medicine
Diabetes services
Respiratory medicine
Pharmacy
Internal medicine
Respiratory medicine
Oncology
Cardiology
Outpatient clinics
Pediatric cardiology
Non-communicable diseases
Ophthalmology
Pediatric intensive care
Chemotherapy
Dialysis
Equipment and facilities
Dialysis
Ultrasound scan
Radiology
Computed tomography scan
Laboratory services
Pharmacy
Description (About the Facility)

The Dr. Abdul Aziz Rantisi Children's Specialty Hospital is a government hospital on al-Nasr Street in Gaza City, the largest children's hospital in Palestine. Construction of the hospital began in 2003, was completed in 2006, and it officially opened in 2008[1]. The hospital offers tertiary level services and has the only pediatric cancer and pediatric dialysis department in the Gaza Strip[2]. It covers an area of about 2,500 square meters and employs 295 people, including 40 doctors. It has a clinical capacity of 124 beds. The hospital is powered by 3 generators with a capacity of 500KVA each. The water is supplied by the municipality, in addition to a water well drilled by the hospital administration, a ground water tank, and desalination plants.

 

Departments:

The ground floor of the hospital is dedicated to six departments: radiology, intensive care, emergency and daycare, laboratory, dialysis, and outpatient. The first floor contains dormitory rooms. The basement level contains the administration department, the pharmacy, the kitchen, the laundry, and the stores.

The emergency department[3].

The hematology and oncology department[4].

Dialysis department ( 10 dialysis units).

Gastroenterology Department[5].

Endoscopy Department[6].

Patient Services Department[7].

Cardiology Department[8].

Respiratory Department.

Neurology[9].

Nursery Department.

Internal Reception.

Radiology Department.

Laboratory and Blood Bank.

Pharmacy Department[10].

Physiotherapy Department.

Pediatric Cancer Department[11].

Funding Details
In addition to government funding the Rantisi Hospital receives support from Al-Wiam Charitable Society[12], Palestine Children's Relief Society[13], Al-Aqsa Al-Sharif Foundation of Malaysia[14], Rahma Worldwide Foundation[15], and the State of Japan[16].
Effect of siege (2007 - 2023)

In 2008: The hematology and oncology department was transferred from Al-Nasr Hospital to the Rantisi Hospital, the neurology department was provided with EEG and EMG machines, and the cardiology department with an echocardiography machine. Additionally, the CT scanning department, the intensive care, reception, and the pediatric physiotherapy department became operational[17].

In 2009: A gastrointestinal endoscopy department was opened[6]. 

In 2010: a respiratory endoscopy department was opened[6].

In 2012: With funding from the Malaysian Al-Aqsa Al-Sharif Foundation, a gymnasium and a library were opened to serve the hospital's patients[18]. In addition, under the auspices of the Ministry of Health, a specialized nursery was opened[14].

In 2017: The pediatric hematology and oncology department was opened, funded by donors from Australia and implemented by the Oasis Foundation for Humanitarian Services[19].

In 2019: The hematology and oncology department was reopened after being renovated by Al-Wayam Charitable Society[12]. The Palestine Children’s Relief Society also announced the opening of the first pediatric cancer department in the Gaza Strip at the hospital[11]. In the beginning of 2016, the society started establishing the department with the aim of reducing medical referrals by 20%. The department includes 14 beds in the hospitals’ outpatient clinics, in addition to 16 equipped rooms[19][20].

In 2021: The Ministry of Health opened a mental health unit at the hospital and the Rahma Worldwide Foundation funded the renovation of the overnight department for gastroenterology, cardiology, and pulmonology patients[21].

In September 2015: The director of al-Shifa Hospital reported that power outages and lack of fuel led to the suspension of services at the Rantisi Hospital for 12 hours, endangering the lives of children in need of dialysis sessions[22].

In August 2018: Dr. Mohammed Abu Salmiya, director of the Rantisi Hospital, reported that many operations could not be carried out due to the lack of medicines. The hospital was also unable to provide the necessary treatment for colon, lung and lymphoma cancer patients due to the depletion of filgrastim stocks needed for patients to undergo chemotherapy. The hospital needed 1,000 injections of filgrastim every month, while the amount available over two months was 100 injections[23].

In September 2023: The hospital announced that it had run out of medical supplies and medicines for dialysis sessions[24].


 

 

narrative during this war

On November 5, 2023: Occupation forces shelled areas near the Rantisi Hospital, damaging buildings and equipment. The World Health Organization reported that the shelling of the perimeter of four hospitals that day killed eight people. The Rantisi Hospital continued to operate despite the damage[25].

On November 6, 2023: The Israeli military ordered the evacuation of the hospital and bombed its third floor[26]. The hospital was sheltering some 6,000 displaced people, and its evacuation would jeopardize the lives of 15 children on life support, 38 children on dialysis, and 10 children on respirators.[27].

On November 7, 2023: The Israeli military renewed the evacuation order for the hospital[28][29].

On November 9, 2023: The hospital stopped providing medical services as a result of the escalation of attacks by occupation forces targeting the hospital and direct shelling, which caused fires in the basement[30]. In addition, Dr. Ashraf al-Qidra, spokesperson for the Ministry of Health, announced that the hospital had stopped working due to lack of fuel, and that the intensive care unit and the nursery were maintained by operating a small generator. He also announced that the occupation was besieging the hospital [31][32].

On November 10, 2023: Dr. Mustafa al-Kahlout, director of the Rantisi Hospital, announced that the hospital had stopped working and that one child had died[33].

On November 11, 2023: Occupation forces targeted the hospital and surrounded it with tanks.[34][35].

On November 12, 2023: Occupation forces continued to besiege the hospital, targeting patients and displaced persons inside[36]. 

On November 14, 2023: Director Dr. al-Kahlout announced that the administration was forced to evacuate patients, internally displaced people, and medical staff due to shelling by the occupation.

On November 19, 2023: Occupation forces stormed the hospital and barricaded themselves inside[38][39].

On November 24, 2023: Occupation forces opened fire in the vicinity of the hospital.

On December 1, 2023: Occupation forces opened fire and shelled the vicinity of the hospital[37].

On December 5, 2023: Local media reported that occupation vehicles retreated from the vicinity of the hospital[40].

The main targeting and assaults During the genocide

Sources
  1. Al-Rantisi Children's Hospital, Facebook.
  2. Al Jazeera Media Network – Al Jazeera Mubasher, Press report.
  3. Al-Rantisi Children’s Hospital, Facebook.
  4. Al-Rantisi Children’s Hospital, Facebook.
  5. Duniya Al Watan Online Newspaper, News release.
  6. Al-Rantisi Children’s Hospital, Facebook.
  7. Al-Rantisi Children’s Hospital, Facebook.
  8. Al-Rantisi Children’s Hospital, Facebook.
  9. Al-Rantisi Children’s Hospital, Facebook.
  10. Aram News Portal, Press report
  11. The New Arab Newspaper, Press report.
  12. Al-Rantisi Children's Hospital, Facebook.
  13. Al-Rantisi Children's Hospital, Facebook.
  14. Al-Rantisi Children's Hospital, Facebook.
  15. Al-Rantisi Children's Hospital, Facebook.
  16. Al-Rantisi Children's Hospital, Facebook.
  17. Ma'an News Agency, News release.
  18. Al-Rantisi Children's Hospital  Facebook
  19. Al-Rantisi Children's Hospital, Facebook.
  20. Al-Rantisi Children’s Hospital, Facebook.
  21. Al-Rantisi Children’s Hospital, Facebook.
  22. Palestine Children's Relief Fund, Website.
  23. Relief Web Information Portal, citing World Health Organization, Report.
  24. Relief Web Information Portal, quoting Al Mezan Center for Human Rights ,Report.
  25. Al Jazeera Media Network - Al Jazeera Mubasher, Press report.
  26. United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Report.
  27. Russia Today, News release.
  28. United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Report.
  29. UN News, Report.
  30. Palestine Red Crescent Society, Report.
  31. Anadolu Agency, News release
  32. Palestinian Ministry of Health – Gaza, Telegram.
  33. Palestinian Ministry of Health – Gaza, Telegram.
  34. Anadolu Agency, News release.
  35. Palestine Red Crescent Society, Report.
  36. Palestine Red Crescent Society, Report.
  37. Journalist Youssef Fares, Telegram.
  38. Euronews, News release
  39. Doctors Without Borders- Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), Press release.
  40. Activist Hamza Al-Masry, Telegram