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Partially functional
Al-Amal Hospital
Facility Type
General Hospital
Ownership type
NGO
Governorates / District
Khan Yunis
Address
Al-Amal Neighborhood – Main Street, Al Amal District
Founding Year
2001
Facility director
Maher Atallah Ghaith
Beds Capacity
110
Number of workers
250
List of medical specialties and services
Obstetrics and gynaecology
Child health
Family planning
General medicine
Rehabilitation
Physiotherapy
Vaccination
Emergency medicine
Dentistry
Dermatology
Diabetes services
Ear, nose and throat
Psychological services
Respiratory medicine
Pharmacy
Nutrition
Home visits
Internal medicine
Orthopedics
Emergency medicine
Respiratory medicine
General surgery
Orthopedic surgery
Cardiology
Urological surgery
Outpatient clinics
Pediatric surgery
Newborn services
Neurosurgery
Non-communicable diseases
Ophthalmology
Psychiatry
Equipment and facilities
Mammography
Ultrasound scan
Radiology
Computed tomography scan
Magnetic resonance imaging
Laboratory services
Pharmacy
Description (About the Facility)

Al-Amal Hospital was established in 1997, under the management of the Palestinian Red Crescent Society in the Gaza Strip, and was built on an area of 4,500 square meters, consisting of five floors, in the center of Khan Yunis.

The hospital was established in the context of meeting the health needs of the southern Gaza Strip governorates, especially the lack of rehabilitation services. The hospital is the only hospital that has a medical rehabilitation department. The importance of the department increases due to the increase in the number of heart and brain stroke patients and accidents in recent years.

Al-Amal Hospital includes the Eye Center, which is the only center where retinal surgery and other eye surgeries are performed. The hospital also includes two high-tech operating rooms, one for eye operations and the other for neurosurgery, brain and joint transplants, and has been enhanced with modern medical devices and equipment[1].

narrative during this war

On October 7, 2023: Occupation forces shoot and injure Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) paramedic, Bibars Abu al-Khair, while he was trying to transport injuries in the town of Khuza'a, east of Khan Yunis, according to a report by the Ministry of Health[2].

On October 24, 2023: Occupation forces targeted the vicinity of Al-Amal Hospital with several airstrikes[3][4].

On January 19, 2024: Occupation forces fire artillery shells in the vicinity of the hospital and drone fire injures a number of displaced people in front of the hospital's entrance[5].

On January 20, 2024: Occupation targeted the vicinity of the hospital with a series of airstrikes and artillery shelling[6].

On January 21, 2024: An occupation aircraft targeted the vicinity of the hospital with a number of fire belts from the northern and southern sides[7].

On January 22, 2024:: The PRCS announced that occupation forces surrounded its ambulance headquarters and prevented ambulances from arriving. The PRCS also announced that occupation tanks were present near Al-Amal Hospital and that it had lost all contact with its crews in Khan Yunis as a result of the ground invasion. Occupation forces also targeted the perimeter of the hospital with firebombs[8][9]. Patients and an estimated 13,000 displaced people at the hospital and the PRCS headquarters were to leave the hospital[10]. 

On January 23, 2024: The PRCS announced that an occupation drone continued to shoot at anyone moving in the vicinity of the hospital, and that PRCS ambulances are unable to reach the injured[11], while the shelling continued in the vicinity of the hospital[12]. An occupation drone martyred a Palestinian in front of the hospital’s entrance[13].

On January 24, 2024: Occupation warplanes heavily bombed the vicinity of the hospital [14], and PRCS crews were trapped inside the PRCS building and the hospital because of curfews imposed in their vicinity[15].

On January 25, 2024: Occupation forces continued the siege of the hospital for the fourth consecutive day amid a state of panic among the displaced[16][17].

On January 26, 2024: The siege on the hospital continued for the fifth day, and the hospital's gate was targeted with artillery shells, causing shrapnel to fly into the hospital[18].

On January 27, 2024: The management of the PRCS denounced the continued siege of the hospital and the heavy firing, which threatens the safety of medical staff, the wounded, patients, and about 7,000 displaced people who sought refuge there to escape the Israeli bombardment[19]. Israeli forces shot and martyred a displaced person in the hospital yard[20].

On January 28, 2024: The hospital’s administration announced that the hospital's oxygen supply had run out due to the ongoing siege[21][22].

On January 29, 2024: The siege of the hospital continued for the eighth consecutive day with continued shelling, shooting, and demands by the occupation army for the displaced people and everyone in the hospital to flee to the Mawasi area[23][24][25][26].

On January 30, 2024:  Occupation forces stormed the yard of the association's building and Al-Amal Hospital, stationing vehicles in the hospital’s yard and shooting and shelling the hospital[27].

On January 31, 2024: The siege of the hospital continued for the tenth consecutive day, with heavy gunfire in the vicinity of the hospital and a number of injuries and martyrs among those inside[28].

On February 1, 2024: Occupation vehicles stormed the PRCS headquarters yard for the third time, and opened heavy fire around Al-Amal Hospital before withdrawing. 12 Palestinians were martyred, including a staff member and a volunteer, and six others injured. The occupation forces also shot and damaged five vehicles, including three ambulances[29][30].

On February 2, 2024: The PRCS said that occupation military vehicles were still besieging Al-Amal Hospital for the twelfth consecutive day from the four sides and preventing the exit or entry of anyone to the hospital buildings and the PRCS, including the movement of ambulance crews. The PRCS also said in a statement that the occupation forces continue their violent shelling and direct shooting in the vicinity of the hospital, adding that four citizens were martyred, including the director of the Youth and Volunteers Department, Hidaya Hamad, in addition to six injuries when the occupation forces opened fire on the PRCS headquarters, which housed thousands of displaced people[31][32].

February 4, 2024: The PRCS said that there are indications of a humanitarian disaster in the besieged Al-Amal Hospital which has been under siege for 14 consecutive days. It added that the hospital was still under heavy fire, and the movement of medics and displaced people was prevented, confirming that two displaced people were injured in the vicinity of the hospital. It also warned that the hospital was running out of food for the IDPs, and that the amount of fuel available was only enough for one week to operate the hospital. It noted that some medical consumables and medicines have reached a zero balance, and a large number were scarce, such as medicines for chronic diseases. The PRCS also confirmed the lack of basic needs for some special groups, such as milk and diapers for children, and diapers for the elderly and people with disabilities[33][34].

On February 5, 2024: The occupation summoned both the member of the executive office of the PRCS and the general director of Al-Amal Hospital, Dr. Haidar Al-Qidra, in addition to the administrative director of the hospital, Maher Atallah, and took them to an unknown destination. Occupation forces also forced the displaced people inside the hospital to leave it amid a state of panic and intensive shooting, as about 8,000 displaced people were evacuated from the hospital and PRCS headquarters, while only 40 elderly people remained, in addition to about 80 patients and 100 administrative and medical staff[35][36][37].

On February 6, 2024: The vicinity of Al-Amal Hospital was subjected to heavy shelling and continuous gunfire, causing shrapnel to fly at the hospital. Occupation forces also arrested two PRCS volunteers, Tamer Muhammad Hussein Shahin and Hamdan Samer Abu Khater, while they were passing on February 5 within the humanitarian corridor for displaced people at Al-Amal Hospital. The rest of the medical staff and patients remained trapped inside the hospital due to the continued lack of communications and the occupation targeting the hospital's surroundings[38][39][40].

On February 7, 2024: Occupation forces stationed in front of the gate of Al-Amal Hospital opened fire at the hospital, injuring two patients. Another patient was martyred inside the hospital due to lack of oxygen[41][42][43][44].

On February 8, 2024: Occupation forces fired artillery shells, sending shrapnel flying into the hospital building[45].

On February 9, 2024: Occupation forces stormed Al-Amal Hospital, raiding it for about 10 hours, during which they searched the hospital, smashed some devices, equipment and furniture, detained the staff, interrogated them, beat and humiliated them. Eight PRCS staff members, including four doctors, four patients, and five companions were arrested. Occupation forces also prevented staff and patients' companions from drinking and using the restroom. The PRCS announced that it had lost contact with its staff in the hospital and that the occupation forces stole money from it and staff and patients[46][47][48].

On February 11, 2024: Occupation forces targeted the main gate of the hospital, which led to damage to the building and put the only remaining PRCS vehicle out of service[49].

On February 12, 2024: Videos showed the extent of the damage to ambulances as a result of the occupation firing at them in the yard of the hospital, which has been besieged for the 22 consecutive days[50].

On February 15, 2024: Occupation forces heavily shelled the vicinity of the hospital, causing damage to the hospital building[51]. The PRCS categorically rejected the fabrications published by the Israeli occupation forces, which claimed that they had arrested 20 “terrorists disguised as medical staff,” according to the occupation army's social media pages [52], when storming Al-Amal Hospital on 9/2/2024.

On February 16, 2024: Occupation tanks targeted the second floor of the hospital, causing very serious damage to two nursing rooms[53].

On February 18, 2024: Occupation forces fired artillery shells at the third floor of the hospital, as the siege of the hospital continued for the 28th consecutive day[54].

On February 19, 2024: Occupation forces continued the siege of the hospital for the 29th day, attacking the vicinity of the hospital. The hospital’s desalination plant was damaged [55][56][57].

On February 20, 2024: Occupation forces targeted the third and fourth floors of the hospital, damaging two rooms and damaged the hospital’s water pipes. Occupation forces also bomb a house near the hospital [58][59].

On February 21, 2024: Occupation forces continued the siege of the hospital for the 31st consecutive day, preventing food and medical supplies from entering [60][61].

On February 22, 2024: Occupation forces fired artillery shells in the vicinity of the hospital, causing shrapnel to fly inside of the PRCS headquarters and at Al-Amal Hospital, damaging antenna cables used for communications[62].

On February 23, 2024: Occupation forces targeted the vicinity of the hospital, causing significant damage to its facilities[63].

On March 24, 2024: Occupation forces opened fire from quadcopters and fired artillery shells at the hospital, while bulldozers demolished buildings in its vicinity. People at the hospital are trapped inside, unable to bury the martyred. Drones announced that everyone leave the hospital’s facilities naked and fired smoke grandees at the people fleeing. Occupation forces block the gates to the hospital with dirt berms. A hospital staff member is wounded in the head. The hospital’s administration announced that its communication with the medical staff at Al-Amal Hospital had been completely cut off[64][65][66][67][68].

On March 25, 2023:  PRCS crews, in coordination with the United Nations Office for Humanitarian Affairs and the International Committee of the Red Cross, evacuated the 27 PRCS staff members at the hospital, in addition to six patients, one companion[69], and the bodies of two martyrs who died inside the hospital[70].

On March 26, 2023: The management of the PRCS announced that Al-Amal Hospital was out of service after the occupation forces forced the hospital staff and the wounded to evacuate the hospital and closed its entrance with sand berms[71].

April 9, 2024: Videos published by local media revealed the extent of the destruction left by the occupation forces following their withdrawal from the hospital and Khan Yunis governorate in general[72][73][74][75].

On April 15, 2024: The PRCS announced the partial reopening of Al-Amal Hospital, including of the emergency department. A number of medical staff who were arrested from inside the hospital were released, but six members of the PRCS's ambulance crews remain in detention[76][77][78]. 

On April 22, 2024: The PRCS announced the loss of an ambulance that was parked in front of the hospital before it was stormed[79]. 

On May 2, 2024: The first birth after the reopening of Al-Amal Hospital's maternity ward[80]. 

On May 17, 2024: The hospital organized a blood donation campaign[81]. 

On May 19, 2024: The PRCS was able to reactivate its ambulance and emergency services[82].

On May 21, 2024: The hospital organized a blood donation campaign at the field medical clinic in the Mawasi area of Khan Yunis[83]. 

On May 26, 2024: The surgical department and operating room at Al Amal Hospital were reopened[84]. 

On June 9, 2024: The PRCS announced that its team were erecting tents with medical beds in front of the Reception and Emergency Department to increase the capacity of Al-Amal Hospital[85][86]. 

On July 1, 2024: Al-Amal Hospital received a number of injured patients from Nasser Medical Complex due to the complex's inability to receive them[87][88].

On July 18, 2024: PRCS crews recovered 12 bodies of Palestinian martyrs killed by the occupation army and buried in the corridors of Al-Amal Hospital, and the bodies were transferred to a public cemetery[89][90].

On July 20, 2024: The PRCS issued a report stating that the Society had been able to reactivate work in all departments of Al-Amal Hospital, including the ophthalmology, obstetrics, surgery and orthopedic departments. Between April 30, 2024 and June 20, 2024, 1,082 surgeries were performed[82]. 

On August 24, 2024: The PRCS stated that occupation forces fired at the second floor of Al-Amal Hospital using drones, targeting the rehabilitation department while patients were in it, no injuries were reported[91].

September 5, 2024: Vaccination against the polio virus began at Al-Amal Hospital, and the PRCS announced that about 200,000 children are expected to be vaccinated in the Khan Yunis governorate and parts of the Rafah governorate[92].

 

The main targeting and assaults During the genocide

Related testimonies

Related testimonies

سليم أبو راس - مدير دائرة الإغاثة في جمعية الهلال الأحمر الفلسطيني
شهادة لسليم أبو رأس من داخل مجمع ناصر أثناء حصاره لأيام متواصلة
- وسائل التواصل الإجتماعي
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