In the heart of Gaza, a humanitarian disaster of unimaginable proportions is unfolding, as Israel’s relentless assaults systematically dismantle the enclave’s already fragile healthcare system. The Indonesian Hospital in northern Gaza, one of the last bastions of medical care in the region, lies in ruins after drone strikes and a ground offensive that began on Saturday, May 17, 2025. This attack is not an isolated incident but part of a deliberate pattern of aggression that has left every public hospital in North Gaza Governorate out of service, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The targeting of medical facilities, personnel, and patients—acts explicitly classified as war crimes under the 1949 Geneva Convention—has pushed Gaza’s population to the brink of annihilation.
Dr. Muhammad Abu Salmiya, director of al-Shifa Hospital, described the dire situation to Al Jazeera, stating, “The medical teams are really suffering… and a lot of people are in need [of] more medical care.” With the Indonesian Hospital largely incapacitated, thousands of sick and wounded face the grim prospect of death due to the absence of basic medical supplies, fuel, and humanitarian aid. The blockade imposed by Israel, which bars the entry of essentials like medicine, food, and clean water, has turned hospitals into death traps rather than places of healing.
A Pattern of Destruction
The assault on Gaza’s healthcare infrastructure is not new. Over the past 18 months, Israel has repeatedly targeted medical facilities across the enclave. Hospitals like Kamal Adwan, al-Ahli, al-Awda, and al-Shifa in the north, as well as Al-Aqsa in Deir el-Balah and the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis, have been bombed, burned, and besieged. Just days ago, nine missiles struck the courtyard of the European Gaza Hospital, killing at least 16 people, while an attack on the Nasser Medical Complex claimed the life of a wounded journalist among others. The European Hospital, the only facility providing cancer treatments in Gaza, is now out of service, leaving countless patients without hope.
These attacks have decimated Gaza’s ability to provide even routine medical care. Doctors report a critical shortage of medicine, with hospitals on the verge of collapse. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) estimates that in the last 10 days of March 2025, an average of 100 children were killed or maimed daily by Israeli airstrikes. The death toll, which has climbed to an estimated 53,000 since October 7, 2023, includes volunteers, medical workers, and journalists—heroes who risked everything to serve their people. Among them were a volunteer pharmacist with the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund, a midwife from Al Awda Health and Community Association, and a journalist with Al Araby TV, all killed alongside their families in recent strikes.
The Looming Famine and a Darkening Crisis
Beyond the destruction of healthcare, Gaza faces a looming famine, with humanitarian officials warning that the crisis has entered one of its darkest phases. Israeli airstrikes have killed hundreds in the last 72 hours alone, with the intensity of the bombardment rivaling the war’s earliest days. Emily Tripp, executive director of Airwars, noted that preliminary data from April 2025 indicate around 700 incidents of civilian casualties, a figure comparable to the heaviest periods of conflict in late 2023. Al Jazeera’s Hind Khoudary, reporting from Deir el-Balah, highlighted the challenges faced by doctors treating the wounded amid a dire lack of supplies, as drones and fighter jets continue to terrorize the skies.
This is not just a war; it is a systematic campaign to erase a people. The targeting of hospitals, the blockade of aid, and the relentless airstrikes are designed to break the spirit and body of Gaza’s population. Yet, the silence from global leaders is deafening.
The Complicity of Global Leaders
The world’s most powerful leaders—presidents, prime ministers, and international organizations—have failed Gaza. Their silence is not merely inaction; it is complicity in what many are calling a silent genocide. The United States, a key ally of Israel, continues to provide military and financial support, with billions in aid flowing to Israel’s war machine. The Biden administration has repeatedly vetoed UN Security Council resolutions calling for a ceasefire, effectively greenlighting the destruction. European leaders, while occasionally issuing tepid calls for “restraint,” have done little to pressure Israel to halt its attacks or lift the blockade. The United Nations, meant to be a beacon of justice, has been rendered toothless by geopolitical maneuvering.
This failure is not just political; it is moral. Every hospital bombed, every child maimed, every family obliterated is a stain on the conscience of humanity. Global leaders have the power to enforce sanctions, demand accountability, and push for humanitarian corridors to deliver aid. Instead, they offer hollow statements and turn a blind eye as Gaza burns. The blood of 53,000 Palestinians, including nearly 3,000 killed since the March 18, 2025, ceasefire collapse, is on their hands.
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A Call to Humanity
The crisis in Gaza is a test of our shared humanity. It demands more than sympathy; it requires action. The international community must:
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Demand an Immediate Ceasefire: Global leaders must unite to halt Israel’s attacks and restore a lasting ceasefire.
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Lift the Blockade: Humanitarian aid, including medical supplies, fuel, food, and water, must be allowed into Gaza without restriction.
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Hold Perpetrators Accountable: The targeting of hospitals and civilians must be investigated as war crimes, with perpetrators brought to justice at the International Criminal Court.
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Amplify Palestinian Voices: The stories of Gaza’s doctors, journalists, and families must be heard, not silenced by censorship or indifference.
Grassroots movements are already rising. Protests across the globe, from London to New York, have called for an end to the violence. Social media platforms like X are amplifying the voices of Palestinians, with hashtags like #GazaUnderAttack trending as users share harrowing accounts of the crisis. Yet, these efforts alone are not enough. The world’s leaders must act, and they must act now.
A Glimmer of Hope Amid Despair
In the face of unimaginable loss, Gaza’s people remain resilient. Doctors work around the clock with dwindling resources. Volunteers risk their lives to deliver aid. Journalists document the truth, even as they become targets. Their courage is a reminder that humanity endures, even in the darkest times. But they cannot do it alone.
The world must stand with Gaza—not with empty words, but with concrete action. The destruction of the Indonesian Hospital is not just a tragedy; it is a clarion call. Will we answer it, or will we remain silent as history repeats its darkest chapters?
