The Palestinian Medical Relief Society (PMRS) announced on Wednesday that Israeli forces had struck its headquarters in Tel El-Hawa, southern Gaza City, following the destruction of another facility in the eastern Daraj district two days earlier, rendering the organization largely non-operational.

In a statement, PMRS condemned the attacks as deliberate attempts to undermine Gaza’s medical and public health infrastructure, accusing Israel of seeking to deprive residents of essential services necessary for survival and resilience. The group emphasized that such assaults constitute a blatant violation of international law, including the Geneva Conventions, which guarantee protection and immunity for medical personnel and facilities.

The Tel El-Hawa building, a five-story complex housing Gaza’s sole centre for emergency and chronic disease care, a modern genetics laboratory, and a specialised disability services unit, had previously suffered partial destruction and looting in December 2023 and was restored in February 2025 to ensure continuity of services.

Since October 7, 2023, PMRS notes, Israeli operations have repeatedly targeted hospitals and clinics, leaving most health facilities partially or fully out of service, killing or injuring patients, and detaining or killing medical staff. Israeli restrictions on crossings since March 2, 2025, have compounded the crisis, blocking essential medicines, medical supplies, and food from entering the Strip.

The strikes on PMRS, Gaza’s largest independent medical relief provider, highlight the fragility of the city’s healthcare system amid sustained military operations and underscore the broader humanitarian catastrophe facing civilians.