Al-Shifa Hospital - largest medical complex and central hospital, Gaza

Question

Al-Shifa Hospital, located in the northern Rimal neighborhood of Gaza City, is the Gaza Strip's largest medical complex and central hospital.

Originally a British Army barracks, it was transformed into a healthcare facility known as Dar al-Shifa or the "house of healing" by the British Mandate of Palestine government in 1946.

Expanded during the Egyptian and Israeli occupations in the 1980s, the hospital has played a prominent role during the Gaza–Israel conflict in the 21st century, notably serving as a focal point for media coverage during the Gaza War (2008–2009).

History:

Pre-1967

Originally a British Army barracks, Dar al-Shifa, meaning "house of healing" in Arabic, was transformed by the government of the British Mandate of Palestine in 1946 into a center for treating quarantine and febrile diseases.

After the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, al-Shifa evolved into the central hospital of Gaza under Egyptian administration. It saw expansions, including new departments for internal medicine, surgery, pediatrics, and ophthalmology. In 2013, a special surgical building was added.

The hospital's growth continued with the return of the Egyptian administration after the 1956 Suez Crisis, expanding to include obstetrics and gynecology departments.

Israeli Occupation (1967-2005)

During the 1967 Six-Day War, Israel occupied Gaza, leading to significant repercussions for Al-Shifa Hospital. The entire Egyptian administration and staff of the hospital were taken prisoner as a result of the occupation. Despite these challenges, by 1969, the department of internal medicine within the hospital had expanded to include several sub-departments, demonstrating resilience and adaptation in the face of adversity.

Palestinian control (2005–present)

1. Palestinian Authority (2005)
   • In 2005, Israel withdrew from Gaza and transferred control to the Palestinian Authority.
2. Fatah–Hamas conflict (2007)
   • Following the 2005, tensions escalated between the Gaza Resistance group, Hamas, and the Palestinian Authority, fueled by perceptions that the Palestinian Authority (PA) was acting as a puppet and acquiescing to Israeli terms without a Gazan interference agreement. The intensifying conflict led to a significant number of casualties reported at the hospital.
3. Gaza War (2008–2009)
   • During the Gaza War (2008–2009), Al-Shifa Hospital faced challenges as it overflowed with Palestinians injured by Israeli airstrikes. The blockade of Gaza prior to the war had caused shortages in essential medical equipment, impacting clinical work.
   • In the first 13 days of the conflict, approximately 360 surgical operations were performed, with about 340 pronounced dead on arrival and 1039 injuries treated. Media coverage of the Israel–Gaza conflict in 2008–2009 was notably reported from the hospital.