Regional parties condemn Israeli strike on Gaza's Baptist hospital
Several countries and groups condemned "Israel’s" strike on Gaza’s Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital, labelling it a war crime and urged global action to halt the ongoing aggression on the Palestinian enclave.
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Rubble is piled up in the aftermath of an Israeli strike on the Al-Ahli hospital, also known as the Baptist or Ahli Arab hospital, in Gaza City on April 13, 2025 (AFP)
Multiple governments and political groups have issued strong condemnations in response to the Israeli bombing of the al-Ahli Baptist Hospital, one of the few functioning hospitals in Gaza, denouncing the strike as a grave violation of international law and a heinous crime against civilians.
The Israeli occupation military claimed it had targeted a Hamas "command and control centre" operating within the facility.
Since the outbreak of war, tens of thousands of Gaza residents have sought refuge in hospitals, many of which have suffered severe damage as a result of Israeli strikes.
"The bombing led to the destruction of the surgery building and the oxygen generation station for the intensive care units," Gaza's Civil Defense rescue agency said.
It came "minutes after the [Israeli] army's warning to evacuate," the agency added.
Hospitals, protected under international humanitarian law, have repeatedly been hit by Israeli strikes in the Gaza Strip since the start of the war on October 7, 2023.
A video circulating on social media shows the aftermath of the Israeli bombing of the Al-Ahli #BaptistHospital in #Gaza. #AlMayadeen's correspondent reported early on Sunday that dozens of patients and medical workers were forced out of the Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital in the… pic.twitter.com/AgjbQVzYeC
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) April 13, 2025
Sanaa: US administration 'complicit' in 'Israel's' genocidal crimes
The Yemeni Foreign Ministry in Sanaa has strongly condemned the Israeli attack, describing it as a brutal assault by the Zionist enemy.
In an official statement, the Ministry said the "shameful silence of the international community has emboldened the usurping Zionist entity to resume its aggression against the Palestinian people."
Sanaa also held the US administration responsible, stating that it is "complicit in the genocidal crimes" being committed by "Israel" against Palestinians.
It renewed its call for Arab and Islamic countries to assume their responsibilities and use all available tools to pressure "Israel" to end its aggression on Gaza.
Hezbollah: Israeli attack on hospital 'blatant war crime'
On its part, Hezbollah strongly denounced the bombing, which destroyed parts of the hospital, rendered it inoperable, and displaced patients, the wounded, and civilians who had sought refuge there from Israeli "terror and criminality."
The Lebanese Resistance group described the attack as a "blatant war crime" that once again exposes "Israel's" "brutal and criminal nature."
"Israel" continues to commit heinous crimes under false pretenses and in disregard of all humanitarian and international laws, it stated.
The group emphasized that the repeated targeting of the healthcare system, including hospitals, medical teams, and health workers, represents an extension of the ongoing genocide being carried out by "the Israeli killing machine" against the Palestinian people.
It is a savage crime and part of the systematic destruction of what remains of life-supporting infrastructure in the besieged Gaza Strip, with full and unlimited American support and complicity, Hezbollah added.
The Lebanese group called on international human rights organizations and medical and humanitarian bodies to condemn this brutal aggression, to take urgent action to protect civilians and healthcare facilities in Gaza, and to work immediately to stop this ongoing act of genocide.
Jordan condemns 'Israel’s' use of starvation, siege as weapons
Similarly, Jordan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates also issued a strong condemnation of "Israel’s" bombing of the Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital in Gaza City, which rendered the facility completely out of service.
Amman described the attack as "a blatant violation of international law and international humanitarian law, and a clear breach of the 1949 Geneva Convention on the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War."
The Ministry’s official spokesperson, Ambassador Dr. Sufian Qudah, reaffirmed Jordan's "absolute rejection and condemnation of the ongoing Israeli aggression on Gaza and the continued systematic targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure."
He also decried the destruction of vital facilities that provide essential services to Gaza's residents and condemned "Israel’s" use of starvation and siege as weapons to forcibly displace Palestinians.
Qudah warned of the consequences of these violations on regional security and stability and called on the international community to fulfill its legal and moral responsibilities by compelling "Israel" to immediately halt its aggression on Gaza, open the crossings designated for humanitarian aid, and uphold the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people to establish their independent, sovereign state along the June 4, 1967, lines with the eastern part of occupied al-Quds as its capital.
He also called for accountability for the crimes committed against Palestinians.
Egypt: Israeli strike on Gaza hospital grave breach of humanitarian law
Meanwhile, Egypt condemned the Israeli attacks on the hospital, describing them as a serious violation of international humanitarian law and all established international norms.
Cairo called for an immediate halt to all Israeli assaults on the Gaza Strip and for the swift entry of humanitarian and relief aid to the population, warning that the current situation could lead to a full-blown humanitarian catastrophe for which "Israel" would bear full responsibility.
Egypt further urged the international community to fulfill its responsibilities and intervene without delay to halt "Israel’s" flagrant attacks on Gaza.
It also called for the enforcement of international law, the UN Charter, and the implementation of necessary measures to end the aggression, particularly in light of ongoing regional and international efforts to achieve de-escalation and resume the ceasefire agreement.
Iran: 'Israel’s' bombing on Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital 'horrific crime'
Additionally, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said his country strongly condemns the Israeli bombing of the Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital, calling on the international community and relevant institutions to take urgent action in response to this "horrific crime".
He indicated that Iran holds the United States and European countries, which continue to supply weapons to "Israel", responsible for these violations of human rights, urging the United Nations to fulfill its role in "ending this tragedy".
Saudi Arabia warns of collapse of healthcare system in Gaza
The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs also expressed the kingdom’s strongest condemnation of the "heinous crime committed by the Israeli occupation forces in bombing the al-Ahli Baptist Hospital in the Gaza Strip."
Riyadh reiterated its "unequivocal rejection of this assault, which constitutes a flagrant violation of all international laws and norms, including international humanitarian law."
Saudi Arabia also warned of the potential "collapse of the healthcare system in Gaza as a result of the Israeli occupation’s continued violations of all international laws and norms."
UK FM says 'deplorable' Israeli attacks on Gaza hospitals 'must end'
Moreover, UK Foreign Minister David Lammy condemned "Israel's" attacks on medical facilities, underscoring that these assaults "have comprehensively degraded access to healthcare in Gaza."
In a post on social media, Lammy, the only Western official to condemn the Israeli assault as of now, noted that the Al-Ahli Hospital "has been attacked repeatedly since the conflict began," stressing that "these deplorable attacks must end."
"Diplomacy, not more bloodshed, is how we will achieve a lasting peace."
Read more: Gaza's health system teeters after Baptist hospital bombing: Exclusive