An Israeli drone strike targeted the courtyard of Al-Ahli Arab Hospital, also known as the Baptist Hospital, in Gaza City late Saturday, killing at least seven people, according to hospital sources reported by Al Jazeera. The attack, part of Israel’s intensified campaign to seize northern Gaza and displace over a million Palestinians, has drawn widespread condemnation and reignited protests across the United States.
The strike on Al-Ahli, one of the last functioning medical facilities in northern Gaza, comes amid a broader assault that killed 31 Palestinians on Saturday, including 14 foraging for food, per the Palestinian Health Ministry. The ministry also reported 11 starvation deaths in the past 24 hours, bringing the total to 251, with 108 children among them. Since October 2023, Israel’s war on Gaza has claimed 61,827 lives and wounded 155,275, with the hospital attack exacerbating the collapse of Gaza’s healthcare system. UN experts have labeled Israel’s targeting of medical facilities as “medicide,” accusing the military of systematically destroying healthcare infrastructure.
In Gaza’s Beit Lahiya, hundreds protested, demanding a ceasefire and an end to Hamas’s rule, chanting “Stop the war!” Verified footage showed signs reading “We refuse to die,” though Hamas dispersed some demonstrations, detaining organizers. The Al-Ahli strike, the fifth on the hospital since 2023, follows an April 2025 attack that destroyed its emergency unit and killed three, including a child during evacuation, according to Iran Press TV and the Anglican Diocese of Jerusalem.
In the U.S., the bombing fueled outrage. In Washington, D.C., thousands rallied near the White House, organized by groups like the Palestinian Youth Movement and Jewish Voice for Peace. Protesters condemned U.S. military aid to Israel—$3.8 billion annually—and the recent suspension of visitor visas for Palestinians seeking medical care. “This is genocide, funded by our taxes!” shouted a demonstrator in New York’s Times Square, where similar protests unfolded. Marches in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Dallas saw crowds block streets, with some displaying controversial Hamas-linked symbols, though most focused on the humanitarian crisis.
The attack has drawn international condemnation. UN Special Rapporteur Tlaleng Mofokeng called it a violation of international humanitarian law, urging a ceasefire. France, Britain, Canada, and Australia announced steps toward recognizing a Palestinian state, while Germany halted arms exports to Israel. U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee defended Israel, arguing Hamas’s use of civilian sites justifies strikes, a claim disputed by UN reports citing no evidence.
As Gaza’s healthcare system crumbles and protests swell globally, the Al-Ahli bombing underscores the deepening crisis, with no resolution in sight.
