Dr. Abdel Aziz Al-Rantisi Specialized Children’s Hospital is a government hospital located on Al-Nasr Street in Gaza City. It is the largest pediatric hospital in Palestine and operates under the administration and funding of the Palestinian Ministry of Health, along with support from various charitable institutions.
On November 5, 2023: The Israeli occupation bombed areas near Al-Rantisi Children’s Hospital, causing damage to buildings and equipment. The World Health Organization reported that shelling around four hospitals that day resulted in the killing of eight people. Despite sustaining damage, Al-Rantisi Hospital continued its operations.
On November 7, 2023: The Israeli army ordered the evacuation of Al-Rantisi Children’s Hospital. At the time, the hospital was sheltering approximately 6,000 displaced individuals. Evacuating the hospital put 15 children on life support, 38 children undergoing kidney dialysis, and 10 children reliant on ventilators at severe risk.
On November 9, 2023: The hospital ceased medical services due to escalating attacks by Israeli forces targeting the facility. It was directly bombed, resulting in fires breaking out.
On November 10, 2023: Dr. Mustafa Al-Kahlout, Director of Al-Rantisi and Al-Nasr Children’s Hospitals, announced the hospital’s shutdown and the death of one child. Dr. Ashraf Al-Qudra, spokesperson for the Ministry of Health, confirmed that the hospital had ceased operations due to fuel depletion, with only intensive care and neonatal services continuing through a small generator. The Ministry of Health in Gaza also reported that Israeli forces directly targeted the hospital.
On November 11, 2023: Israeli occupation forces bombed and besieged the hospital with tanks.
On November 12, 2023: The siege on the hospital continued, with Israeli forces targeting patients and displaced individuals inside. The hospital was evacuated the same day.
On November 19, 2023: The Palestinian resistance detected Israeli soldiers stationed inside Al-Rantisi Hospital and engaged them in combat.
On December 1, 2023: Local media reported ongoing intense clashes and explosions near the hospital.
On December 5, 2023: Local media sources confirmed that Israeli military vehicles had withdrawn from the vicinity of the hospital.
On June 30, 2024: Restoration of Al-Rantisi Children’s Hospital in Gaza City began.
On October 27, 2024: The Middle East Office of Al-Khair Foundation announced the completion of the first phase of the hospital’s restoration.
On November 2, 2024: The Ministry of Health in Gaza, in collaboration with the Qatari Al-Khair Foundation, officially reopened Al-Rantisi Hospital following the completion of the first phase of restoration. Additional restoration phases were planned, according to the ministry’s Director General, Munir Al-Barsh. The ministry also announced the launch of the second dose of the polio vaccine at the hospital.