Tragic Loss as Israeli Strike Claims Lives in Gaza Hospital Fire

On the night of October 15, 2024, a devastating fire broke out at the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah, Gaza, following an Israeli air strike. In a widely circulated video, 19-year-old Shaban al-Dalu was seen consumed by flames, an image that drew global attention and horror.

The incident occurred while Shaban was sleeping near his mother, Alaa, in their tent. His 17-year-old brother, Mohammed al-Dalu, recounted the harrowing events to NBC News, describing how a projectile had trapped Shaban by his leg. Despite attempts to rescue him, Mohammed was held back. “No one let me see my brother Shaban,” he expressed, “My heart was burning.” Their father, Ahmed al-Dalu, wounded and with a bandaged face, described his efforts to save other family members from the flames.

This family had endured displacement multiple times, and Shaban had been injured in an earlier attack. The fire claimed the lives of Shaban, his mother, and three others, leaving dozens injured, including Shaban’s father and three of his siblings.

The video of Shaban’s final moments spurred international outcry and demands for accountability. Critics urged condemnation of Israel’s military actions, and accused it of genocide in Gaza. The International Court of Justice and other organizations have previously leveled such accusations against Israel, claims which both Israel and the U.S. have denied.

State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller addressed the situation, stating the images were “deeply disturbing.” He indicated that the U.S. communicated its concerns directly to Israel. Meanwhile, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) justified the attack by alleging that Hamas militants were using the hospital for military operations, though they did not provide evidence, nor was NBC News able to verify this claim.

Mohammed confirmed that the video showed his brother and mother caught in the blaze. As he guided NBC News through the scorched remains of their campsite, he pointed to the spots where they had slept. The area had remnants consistent with the footage shared online.

Al-Aqsa Hospital receives support from Médecins Sans Frontières, known as Doctors Without Borders, which condemned the attack as “totally unacceptable” and stressed the need for protection of such facilities.

Mohammed noted that Shaban, a dedicated student of the Quran and a top high school graduate in software engineering before the conflict, was not involved in politics. Shaban had begun a GoFundMe to help his family escape to Egypt in hopes of beginning anew, writing that “Gaza is where dreams go to die.” In his tragic end, Shaban was laid to rest wrapped in his mother’s embrace.