Hospital in Gaza Becomes Target of Israeli Attack on Friday, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ensures Safety of Indonesian Citizens in Indonesian Hospital

Indonesian Hospital in the Gaza Strip, Palestine. (Wikimedia Commons/Pramudita Rifkyw)

JAKARTA - A number of hospitals in the Gaza Strip were again targeted by Israeli military attacks on Friday, while the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs ensured the safety of three Indonesian volunteers at the Indonesian Hospital after the attack Thursday night.

Gaza officials said Israel carried out airstrikes on or near at least three hospitals on Friday, stressing the enclave's health system has become increasingly precarious due to the conflict that has erupted since the October 7 attack by Hamas militants.

"The Israeli occupation launched simultaneous attacks on a number of hospitals over the last few hours," Gaza Health Ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qedra told Al Jazeera television, citing Reuters, November 10.

The medical facilities include Gaza's largest hospital, Al Shifa, where Israel says Hamas is hiding a command center and tunnels, a charge Hamas denies.

Al-Qedra said the Israeli military targeted the courtyard of Gaza City's medical complex and there were casualties, but he did not provide details.

The Israeli military did not immediately comment on Qedra's remarks, which Reuters could not independently verify.

It is known that hospitals in Gaza have struggled to treat victims of Israel's month-long military campaign, because medical supplies, clean water and fuel for power plants have run out.

Gaza's Health Ministry said 18 of Gaza's 35 hospitals, as well as 40 other health centers, were unable to operate due to damage from bombing or lack of fuel.

Al-Qedra said Al-Rantisi Children's Hospital and Al-Nasr Children's Hospital "had experienced a series of direct attacks and bombings" on Friday. He said the attack on the hospital grounds in Al-Rantisi caused a fire but some vehicles had been extinguished.

Separately, Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Lalu Muhammad Iqbal confirmed the condition of three Indonesian citizens who were volunteers at the Gaza Indonesian Hospital, after the Israeli attack Thursday night.

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has communicated with MER-C and obtained information that three Indonesian volunteers at the Indonesian Hospital have been contacted and are in good condition. All three were in the basement when the attack occurred," he said in a written statement on Friday 10 November.

"The rocket's target was the Taliza'tar area, which is located very close to RSI, so RSI suffered a number of additional physical damages," he said.

He added that Indonesia once again condemns the barbaric attacks on citizens and civilian objects, especially humanitarian facilities in Gaza.