UAE field hospital in Gaza hit by bomb shrapnel

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The UAE's field hospital in Gaza sustained damage after being struck by shrapnel from nearby military operations, leading to a renewed call for emergency workers to be protected as war rages on.

UAE authorities said no one was injured but “several key facilities” in the hospital, based in the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, were hit on Tuesday.

A video shared on social media on Tuesday night by Operation Gallant Knight 3 – the UAE's humanitarian campaign in support of Palestinians affected by the war – showed debris strewn on the floors of the 200-bed hospital.

The statement did not accuse Israel of being responsible, but the area has been subject to Israeli bombardment since the ceasefire was broken.

“The hospital is still operational despite the challenging conditions and continues to provide medical care to injured Palestinians,” an official from Operation Gallant Knight 3 told The National. Unattended areas of the centre were damaged, they added.

“We already had two cases receiving treatment in the intensive care unit when the incident happened,” the official said.

The operation urged for the safety of health workers in Gaza to be secured to allow for vital services to continue.

“No injuries were reported among the medical staff or personnel working at the site,” it said in a social media post.

“The Emirati medical mission reaffirmed its humanitarian commitment to continue providing medical care to injured Palestinians despite the challenging conditions on the ground.

“The mission also called on relevant authorities to ensure protection measures are in place to safeguard medical teams and maintain uninterrupted hospital operations.”

In May 2024, Sultan Al Kaabi, the director of the hospital at the time, told The National that despite the continuing shelling and Israeli operations in Rafah presenting challenges, the hospital remained determined to deliver services.

Crucial lifeline

More than 51,000 injured Palestinians have been treated at the complex since it opened in December 2023.

Medical teams in the hospital had conducted more than 1,780 surgical operations, from minor to critical, across various specialities, the Ministry of Defence said. The UAE also provided 10 ambulances and 400 tonnes of medical supplies to aid hospitals in the enclave.

The field hospital, which was swiftly assembled by a team of medical professionals and support staff, is equipped with advanced medical technology and supplies.

It specialises in general and orthopaedic surgery, and offers anaesthetic services and intensive care for children and adults. It also provides internal medicine, dentistry, family medicine and psychiatric treatment.

The field hospital has provided critical support to health services which have been decimated by the deadly conflict, which started on October 7, 2023.

The enclave's health sector has come under severe pressure due to continued strikes, which has caused the widespread destruction of medical infrastructure.

A critical shortage of medical personnel and resources has cut off access to health care for many civilians injured in the war, highlighting the importance of humanitarian efforts including the UAE's field hospital and its floating hospital docked off the coast of Al Arish in Egypt.