Skip to main content
Partially functional
Indonesian Hospital
Facility Type
General Hospital
Ownership type
Government sector
Governorates / District
North Gaza
Address
Beit Lahia – Opposite Sheikh Zayed Towers, west of the entrance to Tal Al Zaatar
Founding Year
2014
Facility director
Atef Al-Kahlot
Beds Capacity
164
Number of workers
400
List of medical specialties and services
General medicine
Physiotherapy
Emergency medicine
Diabetes services
Respiratory medicine
Pharmacy
Internal medicine
Orthopedics
Emergency medicine
Respiratory medicine
General surgery
Orthopedic surgery
Cardiology
Outpatient clinics
Non-communicable diseases
Communicable diseases
Intensive care
Equipment and facilities
Ultrasound scan
Radiology
Computed tomography scan
Laboratory services
Pharmacy
Description (About the Facility)

The Indonesian Hospital, located in the Jabalia refugee camp, opened in 2016 with a capacity of 110 beds, including 10 intensive care beds. It serves more than 300,000 people and receives and average of 250 patients per day [2]. The hospital was the first hospital built in Gaza since the Israeli siege and blockade began in 2006. Plans to establish the hospital emerged after the Israeli massacre in 2008-2009, with construction beginning in 2011 on an area estimated at 12,000 square meters. The construction, which took five years due to the siege, was supervised and implemented by the Indonesian Mercy Foundation, and funded by donations from the Indonesian people [1]. 

The opening of the Indonesian Hospital was an important factor in reducing the burden on Kamal Adwan Hospital, which was closed for a year after the opening of the Indonesian hospital for maintenance and renovation work. The opening of the hospital also relieved the burden on Beit Hanun Hospital in the northern Gaza Strip and made a qualitative leap in providing health services to the population in the area [3]. 

The hospital consists of two floors that include several health facilities including, surgery, internal medicine, and orthopedic clinics, an intensive care rooms, a CT scanner that is the most modern in the Gaza Strip, a fluoroscopy machine, a blood laboratory, and various medical specialties.

Effect of siege (2007 - 2023)

In 2014: The Indonesian Hospital was severely damaged during its construction by occupation forces during the bombardment and ground invasion of the areas east of Jabalia [4].  

In 2016: The Indonesian began developing its medical staff by sending a number of Palestinian doctors for training in general and laparoscopic surgery, in partnership with the Association of Palestinian Doctors in Europe and the management of the Ammerland Teaching Hospital in Westerstede, Germany [6]. 

In 2018: Occupation forces bombed the vicinity of the hospital, causing damage to it. During the Great March of Return, the hospital suffered from a severe shortage of medical supplies due to the large number of injured marchers it received [8,9].

In 2018: The hospital received a dialysis machine from the Qatar Charity Foundation, as well as a dialysis room in the intensive care department [7]. 

In 2020: An Indonesian engineering delegation arrived in Gaza to inaugurate two additional floors in the hospital as part of its development and improvement, and it was one of the main hospitals to receive COVID-19 cases [10].

During the 2021 May aggression: The hospital suffered from a severe shortage of medical supplies and medicines while receiving the wounded and martyrs [11].  

In May 2023: Shelling by occupation forces severely damage the hospital [12].

narrative during this war

On October 7, 2023: Occupation forces bombed the Indonesian Hospital, killing a member of the staff, injuring several civilians and medical staff, and severely damaging the hospital, including the oxygen plant. [13].

On October 23, 2023: The hospital lost power as a result of running out of fuel to run the generators[14].

On October 28, 2023: Occupation forces repeatedly bombed the vicinity of the hospital. [15][16]. 

On November 2, 2023: The Ministry of Health reported that the main electrical generator at the hospital stopped working, causing the ventilation systems to stop, the oxygen plant to stop, the electricity to the dormitories to be cut off, and the refrigerators to stop working[17][18]. 

On November 3, 2023: Occupation forces continued to target the vicinity of the hospital with aerial bombardment, while its surroundings were targeted with smoke bombs, and smoke reached the hospital's yards. The Ministry of Health announced the operation of backup generators due to the failure of the main generators, allowing the continuation of work in only three critical services, cutting electricity to the rest of the hospital's departments, and attempting to deliver electricity for only 4 hours to oxygen and sterilization stations, water pumps, and some support services[19][20][21][22].

On November 7, 2023: Indonesian Hospital director Dr. Atef Al-Kahlout, warned that the hospital would run out of fuel within 24 hours, and that the occupation forces continued to shell the hospital's surroundings[23][24].

On November 8, 2023: Occupation planes again heavily bombed the vicinity of the hospital[25].

On November 9, 2023: A number of wounded and displaced people were injured inside the hospital as a result of the occupation planes carrying out a violent fire belt bombing in the vicinity of the hospital, and Dr. Ashraf Al-Qudra, director of hospitals in the Gaza Strip, announced that 20,000 displaced people were sheltering in the hospital[26][27][28].

On November 10, 2023: Occupation warplanes launched a number of firebombs in the vicinity of the hospital[28].

On November 11, 2023: The perimeter of the hospital continued to be targeted with fire belts. Occupation forces also targeted the hospital's gate, and the Ministry of Health announced the complete cessation of surgical operations in the hospital[29][30].

On November 16, 2023: The hospital management announces that the hospital will cease operations due to lack of capacity[31].

On November 18, 2023: Occupation forces continued to target the vicinity of the Indonesian Hospital with fire belts, and a cemetery was established in its vicinity to bury hundreds of martyrs[32][33].

On November 19, 2023: Occupation planes carried out successive fire belts in the vicinity of the hospital[].

On November 20, 2023: Occupation forces besieged the hospital with snipers deployed close to the hospital, sniping anyone who moved inside, martyring 12 people 700 medical staff and thousands of people were trapped in the hospital, which was the only hospital still receiving patients in northern Gaza. This siege came days after al-Shifa Hospital was targeted in the same way, and after incitement by the occupation army spokesperson, who claimed that the Indonesian hospital was used for military purposes, going so far as to claim that the hospital was built to hide military infrastructure[34][35][36].

On November 21, 2023: Occupation forces bombed an operating room inside the hospital, with more than 60 martyrs' bodies in the hospital yard. 500 patients were evacuated to hospitals in the southern Gaza Strip in coordination with humanitarian agencies. Ministry of Health spokesperson Dr. Ashraf Al-Qudra said that 400 wounded and companions, 200 medical staff and 2,000 displaced people were still trapped inside the hospital [37][38][39].

November 22, 2023: The occupation army issued an ultimatum to the hospital's management to evacuate the hospital while the siege continued[40][41].

November 23, 2023: Occupation forces continued to besiege the hospital with tanks while airstrikes damage generators and the hospital gates. 200 patients and medical staff remained at the hospital as 450 patients were evacuated to hospitals in southern Gaza, including the Nasser Medical Complex and the European Hospital, in ambulances crowded with six to seven patients each[42][43][44][45]. 

On November 24, 2023: Occupation forces stormed the hospital after days of siege, killing a wounded woman and arresting three patients. This raid came before the Temporary Armistice Agreement came into effect[45][46][47].

On November 25, 2023: The Ministry of Health announced the complete evacuation of the the hospital. A nurse from the hospital reported that the occupation forces conducted terrifying interrogations as they stormed the hospital[47][48][49]. 

On November 27, 2023: The Ministry of Health confirmed that it will work to reopen the hospital after its raid and operate the kidney department[50].

On November 30, 2023: The hospital administration rehabilitated the hospital's reception department after it was destroyed[51].

On December 2, 2023: Occupation forces targeted the vicinity of the hospital with a series of airstrikes[52].

On December 21, 2023: The Indonesian Emergency Medical Rescue Committee held a conference announcing that the occupation forces had threatened the management of the hospital to evacuate after the truce week, while the occupation forces turned the hospital into a military base. The committee demanded the intervention of the World Health Organization (WHO) by carrying out an investigation into the conversion of the hospital into a military base[53].

December 22, 2023: Occupation forces withdraw from the vicinity of the hospital. Dozens of martyrs were found lying on the ground[54].

December 25, 2023: Occupation forces shelled the hospital, martyring three Palestinians[55].

On April 23, 2024: Occupation forces issued an order to evacuate areas in the northern Gaza Strip, including the Indonesian Hospital, and a UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) report said that the hospital was hosting displaced persons[56].

On April 25, 2024: The occupation forces targeted the vicinity of the hospital, killing three children and injuring two others[57].

On May 8, 2024: The vicinity of the hospital continued to be targeted by warplanes[58].

On May 11, 2024: Local media sources reported that targeting continues in the vicinity of the hospital, in addition to the use of smoke bombs[59].

On May 12, 2024: The vicinity of the hospital witnessed continued clashes and Israeli shelling using artillery and fire belts[60]. 

On May 28, 2024: Local media reported the sounds of clashes in the vicinity of the hospitall[61].

On June 1, 2024: A WHO report said that the Indonesian Hospital partially resumed operations, after the withdrawal of the occupation forces on May 31 from the surrounding area, noting that access to the hospital was difficult due to the destruction of roads by the occupation forces[62].

On June 7, 2024: The hospital’s administration announced via Facebook that it would begin operating 24 hours a day to receive patients[63]. 

On June 21, 2024: UNOCHA reported that the hospital was being rehabilitated and was receiving 100 patients per day. The hospital received a medical delegation through Rahma Worldwide[64][65].

June 25, 2024: Indonesian Hospital director Dr. Marwan Sultan announced that the hospital was suffering from a shortage of fuel, medical devices and equipment[66].

June 26, 2024: The hospital’s mental health department resumed operations[67].

On July 5, 2024: The hospital received a medical delegation from Algeria[68].

July 8, 2024: WHO director-general Tedros Adhanon Ghebreyesus noted that the Indonesian Hospital was operating at three times its capacity, and the hospital was receiving a large number of patients because Al-Ahli Arab and the Friends of the Patient hospitals were out of service[69].

On July 10, 2024: The hospital’s administration appealed for blood donations[70].

On July 24, 2024: The WHO was able to deliver 48,000 liters of fuel to the Kamal Adwan and Indonesian hospitals[71].

On August 1, 2024: The Indonesian Hospital staff, in cooperation with Sanabel Foundation, began renovating the maintenance entrance and the central oxygen plant[72].

On August 5, 2024: The hospital announced on its Facebook page that its outpatient clinics have been reopened[1]. The WHO reported that the reopening added a capacity of 61 beds and nine ICU beds[73]. 

On August 8, 2024: The occupation issued an evacuation order for the area of the hospital[74].

On August 21, 2024: Indonesian Hospital director Dr. Marwan al-Sultan announced that the hospital urgently needed diesel to operate the intensive care unit and surgeries, warning of a humanitarian disaster. The Ministry of Health announced that the amount of fuel available in all the Gaza Strip governorates only was sufficient for only 24 hours [75][76][77]. 

On August 25, 2024: Indonesian Hospital director Dr. Marwan al-Sultan reported that the hospital was in danger of ceasing operations due to the severe shortage of fuel. He explained that the fuel supplied was only enough for 72 hours, putting surgeries and the intensive care department at risk of stopping and putting patients at real risk of death[78].

On August 28, 2024: The WHO supplied diesel to the hospital[79].

The main targeting and assaults During the genocide

Related testimonies

Related testimonies

هداية زعنون - طبيبة في المستشفى الإندونيسي
شهادة الطبيبة هداية زعنون عن حصار المستشفى الإندونيسي
- شبكة الجزيرة الإعلامية
محمد الكحلوت - رئيس قسم التمريض بقسم الطوارئ
الممرض محمد الكحلوت يروي تفاصيل إعتقال أحد الأطباء من داخل المستشفى الإندونيسي
- شبكة الجزيرة الإعلامية
عدنان البرش - رئيس قسم جراحة العظام في مجمع الشفاء الطبي
الطبيب عدنان البرش بعد إصابته في قصف المستشفى الإندونيسي
- وسائل التواصل الإجتماعي
عاطف الكحلوت - المدير العام لمستشفى الإندونيسي
الطبيب عاطف الكحلوت يروي تفاصيل المجازر من داخل مستشفى الإندونيسي
- وزارة الصحة الفلسطينية (غزة)
محمد ابراهيم الرن - رئيس قسم الاستقبال والطوارئ في المستشفى الإندونيسي
الطبيب محمد الرن يروي تفاصيل الاستهدافات العنيفة على جباليا
- وسائل التواصل الإجتماعي
Sources
  1. Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics.
  2. Reuters Agency, News release.
  3. Palestine today channel, News release.
  4. Sama news agency, News release.
  5. Dunia al-Watan Online Newspaper, News release.
  6. Sawa news agency, News release.
  7. Safa Palestinian news agency, News release.
  8. Al-Ghad channel, YouTube .
  9. Palestinian Ministry of Health, "Special Report: Israeli violations against medical institutions", October 2023.
  10. Insaan online, News release.
  11. Al Jazeera news network, News release.
  12. Palestinian Ministry of health - Gaza, Telegram.
  13. Palestinian Ministry of Health - Gaza ,Telegram.
  14. Palestinian News and Information Agency "Wafa", News release.
  15. Palestinian News and Information Agency "Wafa", News release.
  16. United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs,  Report.
  17. United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Report.
  18. Al Arabiya Channel, News release.
  19. United Nations, Press release.
  20. United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Report.
  21. Russia Today Channel, News release.
  22. Palestinian Ministry of Health - Gaza, Telegram.
  23. Anadolu Agency, News release.
  24. United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Report.
  25. Euronews, News release.
  26. United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Report.
  27. Al Jazeera Media Network, News release.
  28. Palestinian Information Center, News release.
  29. Al-Manar TV, News release.
  30. Anadolu Agency, News release.
  31. Al Jazeera Media Network, News release.
  32. Al Mayadeen Channel, News release.
  33. Al Jazeera Media Network, News release.
  34. Palestinian Ministry of Health - Gaza, Telegram.
  35. World Health Organization, Press release.
  36. The Guardian, a British newspaper,  Press release.
  37. United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Report.
  38. Palestine Dialogue Network, X Platform, formerly Twitter.
  39. Anadolu Agency, News release.
  40. Palestinian News and Information Agency (WAFA), News release.
  41. Sky News Arabia, News release.
  42. Palestinian Ministry of Health/Gaza, Telegram.
  43. United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Report.
  44. Palestinian News and Information Agency (WAFA), News release.
  45. United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Report.
  46. Al Jazeera Media Network, News release.
  47. Anadolu Agency, News release.
  48. Ma'an News Agency, News release.
  49. Al Jazeera English, News release.
  50. Al Jazeera Media Network, Facebook.
  51. Indonesian Hospital, Facebook.
  52. The New Arab news website, News release.
  53. Indonesian News Agency, News release.
  54. Al Arabiya TV, News release.
  55. United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Report.
  56. United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Report.
  57. United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Report.
  58. Neopress electronic platform, X platform, formerly Twitter.
  59. Activist Hamza Al-Masry, Telegram.
  60. Al Jazeera Media Network, Facebook.
  61. Activist Hamza Al-Masry, Telegram.
  62. World Health Organization, Report.
  63. Indonesian Hospital, Facebook.
  64. United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Report.
  65. Indonesian Hospital, Facebook.
  66. Indonesian Hospital, Facebook.
  67. Indonesian Hospital, Facebook.
  68. Indonesian Hospital, Facebook.
  69. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, X Platform, formerly Twitter.
  70. Indonesian Hospital, Facebook.
  71. United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Report.
  72.  Indonesian Hospital, Facebook.
  73. Indonesian Hospital, Facebook.
  74. Reliefweb citing the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Report.
  75. United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Report.
  76.  Al-Quds News Agency, News release.
  77. United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Report.
  78. Indonesian Hospital, Facebook.
  79. Indonesian Hospital, Facebook.
  80. Indonesian Hospital, Facebook.