Tragic Fire at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital: Survivors Share Their Ordeals
In the early hours of October 14, 2024, a devastating fire erupted at the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah, Gaza, following an Israeli airstrike that has left the local community in shock and mourning. Survivors, including Mrs. Jamalat Wadi, recounted harrowing experiences as they lost everything in the blaze, which was ignited around 1:10 am. The attack resulted in the deaths of at least four people, with around 50 others injured, many suffering from severe burns.
The hospital, which had been a refuge for displaced families, was overwhelmed with casualties from a previous attack on a nearby shelter. As families sought safety, they found themselves caught in a horrific situation, with flames consuming their tents and belongings. Mrs. Wadi, a widow and mother of seven, described her anguish as she searched through the ashes for anything salvageable, lamenting, 'Everything was burned. The nylon was melting on us.'
IDF Claims Secondary Explosions Responsible for Fire
In response to the incident, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that the fire was caused by secondary explosions, and they have launched an investigation into the events surrounding the airstrike. However, this assertion has been met with skepticism by local authorities and human rights analysts, who argue that such bombings are part of a systematic targeting of civilian shelters in Gaza.
Political analysts have condemned the ongoing attacks, asserting that they reflect a deliberate policy aimed at terrorizing the population and forcing them to flee. Mustafa Ibrahim, a political and human rights analyst, emphasized that the situation represents a collapse of international humanitarian law and called for urgent international intervention to protect civilians. The plight of families like Mrs. Wadi's, who have lost everything, underscores the dire humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza amid ongoing conflict.
