Qatar and 17 Arab, Muslim countries condemn Israeli strike on Gaza hospital

Qatar and 17 other countries condemned Israel’s deadly strike on Nasser Hospital in Gaza, urging an end to attacks and restrictions on humanitarian aid.Qatar and 17 other Arab and Muslim countries have strongly condemned an Israeli airstrike on Nasser Medical Complex in southern Gaza that killed at least six Palestinians, including a surgeon, and wounded dozens more.In a joint statement issued on Saturday, the foreign ministers described the attack on the hospital in Khan Younis as a violation of international humanitarian law, which provides special protection for medical facilities and healthcare workers.The statement, carried by the Qatar News Agency (QNA) on 14 November, also condemned continued Israeli attacks on Palestinian civilians, including strikes on tents and other shelters housing displaced people.The ministers warned that the attacks were undermining the Gaza ceasefire agreement and efforts to restore security and stability in the territory, while contradicting US President Donald Trump’s comprehensive peace plan.The condemnation follows an Israeli strike on Nasser Medical Complex on Thursday, which killed at least six people, including prominent surgeon Rizk Abu Shaira, and wounded at least 20 others, according to Gaza’s health ministry and civil defence.The hospital’s director, Raed al-Dahshan, said a missile penetrated several floors of the building, causing extensive damage to the surgical department and intensive care unit.Most of those killed and wounded were patients, including people scheduled to undergo surgery the following day, Al Jazeera reported.The Israeli military claimed it had targeted a Hamas commander at the hospital. Hamas rejected the justification, describing the strike as a war crime and accusing Israel of attempting to conceal an attack on a protected civilian medical facility.Nasser Medical Complex is one of Gaza’s largest hospitals and serves an estimated 500,000 people in the southern part of the territory.Ministers warn of worsening humanitarian crisisThe joint statement also expressed grave concern over Israel’s continued restrictions on humanitarian assistance, particularly medical supplies and shelter materials, including tents, caravans and mobile homes.The ministers warned that these restrictions were worsening Gaza’s humanitarian crisis as winter approaches, leaving displaced families increasingly vulnerable to severe weather conditions.They said shortages of adequate shelter, combined with deteriorating water, sanitation and healthcare services, posed serious risks to civilians, particularly children and infants who could face life-threatening exposure to freezing temperatures.The warning comes after heavy rainfall flooded tens of thousands of tents housing displaced Palestinians across Gaza.According to Gaza’s Government Media Office, approximately 70,000 tents were flooded during recent storms, while UNICEF reported that at least 106,000 people had been directly affected by the heavy rains.The United Nations has appealed for urgent deliveries of waterproof tents and other essential supplies, warning that Israeli restrictions continue to obstruct humanitarian operations.UN deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq said humanitarian organisations needed Israeli authorities to grant the necessary permissions for additional tents to enter Gaza.UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher also criticised delays in aid deliveries linked to Israel’s political situation, rejecting suggestions that assistance should wait until the formation of a new Israeli government.Calls for full implementation of ceasefireThe 18 countries called on Israel to immediately fulfil its obligations under the Sharm el-Sheikh agreement, Trump’s comprehensive peace plan and UN Security Council Resolution 2803 of 2025.They demanded that Israel respect the ceasefire, protect civilians and medical facilities, and ensure sufficient humanitarian assistance reaches Gaza safely, sustainably and without obstruction.The ministers also called for the entry of shelter equipment and early recovery materials needed to rehabilitate essential infrastructure, alongside unrestricted access for UN agencies and humanitarian organisations.They stressed that commitments under the first phase of the ceasefire agreement were supposed to take effect immediately upon its signing and should not be delayed by additional political or security conditions.Urgent humanitarian needs, they added, must be addressed independently of progress in subsequent phases of the agreement.The ministers urged the United States and the Board of Peace to intensify efforts to ensure Israel fully implements its obligations and lifts all restrictions on humanitarian assistance.They reaffirmed their commitment to working with regional and international partners to consolidate the ceasefire, implement all phases of the peace plan and increase humanitarian assistance to alleviate Palestinian suffering.The statement was issued by the foreign ministers of Qatar, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Pakistan, Türkiye, Algeria, Djibouti, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Somalia, Oman, Palestine, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Egypt and Mauritania.Israel has continued carrying out attacks across Gaza despite the ceasefire that took effect in October 2025.According to Gaza’s health ministry, at least 1,600 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks since the agreement came into force.The overall Palestinian death toll from Israel’s war on Gaza has reached 74,653, with more than 176,000 wounded since October 2023, according to health authorities in the territory.