Tehran’s Gandhi Hospital was struck and heavily damaged during the latest wave of attacks, forcing the evacuation of patients and intensifying concerns over the protection of civilian infrastructure in the early days of the escalating conflict.
Iranian officials said the hospital sustained significant structural damage after a strike hit the surrounding area, with emergency crews transferring patients — including newborns — to other facilities. The incident follows a February 28 strike on the Shajareh Tayyebeh girls’ elementary school in Minab that Iranian authorities said killed 148 children, one of the deadliest reported incidents since hostilities began.
The World Health Organization expressed alarm over the hospital damage, reiterating that medical facilities are protected under international humanitarian law. Iranian officials accused Israel of striking areas in close proximity to civilian infrastructure — allegations that Israeli authorities have not publicly detailed in response.
Critics argue that during the Gaza genocide, Israeli operations repeatedly struck hospitals and schools — incidents that prompted investigations and widespread international condemnation. They say the latest damage to civilian infrastructure in Iran shows a broader pattern of attacks affecting non-military sites.
With the confrontation intensifying, concerns are mounting that essential services — including healthcare and education — may continue to bear the brunt of the escalating violence.
