BBC Verify Investigates Israeli Strike on Gaza's European Hospital

Attack on European Hospital

• 💥 Security camera footage captured an Israeli air strike hitting the courtyard of the European hospital in Gaza on May 13th, killing at least 28 people and injuring dozens.
• 🏥 The European hospital was one of the last functioning hospitals in Gaza, and the strike occurred despite prior notification to Israeli authorities about planned patient evacuations.
• 🧑‍⚕️ Dr. Tom Potakar, a British surgeon present at the hospital, described the immediate aftermath as chaotic with widespread damage, smoke, and screaming.

Israeli Military's Claims and Evidence

• 🎯 The Israeli army stated they were targeting a Hamas command and control center beneath the hospital but did not provide evidence to BBC Verify.
• 🗺️ Aerial surveillance footage published by the Israeli military incorrectly identified a nearby school building as the hospital, an error later confirmed by the IDF.
• 🎯 Reports suggested the intended target was Hamas commander Muhammad Sinoir, but the army did not confirm this.

Legal and Expert Analysis

• ⚖️ Sir Jeffrey Nice, a British barrister, stated that targeting hospitals without warning may constitute a war crime under international humanitarian law.
• 💣 Multiple experts identified the weapon impacts as consistent with 'bunker buster' bombs, designed for deep underground targets.
• ❓ Experts noted that even if a Hamas command center existed underground, the strike's legality would depend on precautions taken to warn civilians and the proportionality of the harm.

Hospital Functionality and Aftermath

• 💧 Following the strike, the hospital suffered significant structural damage, disruption to water supply, and power outages, rendering it unable to function.
• 🏥 BBC Verify found no evidence of an evacuation order for the hospital between March 18th and May 13th.
• 💥 At least one additional strike hit the hospital grounds the following day, damaging a bulldozer.

Broader Context of Healthcare in Gaza

• 📉 The UN has documented at least 686 attacks impacting healthcare in Gaza since October 2023, leading to the decimation of the healthcare system.
• 🌍 Leaders from the UK, Canada, and France have warned the Israeli government to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza and end 'egregious actions'.