Medics report that one of the last operational hospitals in northern Gaza has been forcibly evacuated by the Israeli military. This development follows reports of numerous fatalities resulting from Israeli strikes in the vicinity of the healthcare facility.
Eid Sabbah, the head of the nursing department at Kamal Adwan Hospital, reported to the BBC that at approximately 07:00 on Friday, the military instructed the administration to evacuate patients and staff into the hospital’s courtyard within 15 minutes.
According to reports, Israeli troops later entered the hospital and began evacuating the remaining patients, as stated by him.
On Friday afternoon, the Israeli military announced that it was conducting an operation in the vicinity of the hospital, labelling it a “Hamas terrorist stronghold.”
Israeli troops reportedly ensured the safe evacuation of civilians, patients, and medical personnel from the hospital before commencing the operation, according to the statement.
The military has not disclosed the locations where the patients will be transferred. Earlier in the week, an Israeli official announced plans to relocate patients from Kamal Adwan Hospital to the nearby Indonesian hospital, which the military had evacuated on Tuesday.
Dr. Sabbah expressed concerns regarding the situation, stating, “It’s dangerous because there are patients in the ICU department in a coma and need of ventilation machines, and moving them will put them in danger.”
“Should the military plan to persist in the evacuation of these patients, it will require specialized vehicles.”
Dr Yousef Abu-Al Rish, the deputy minister of health in Gaza, informed the BBC that patients in critical condition had been transported to the Indonesian hospital. He noted that the facility is currently non-operational due to a lack of generators and water supply.
“It cannot be classified as a hospital; it resembles more of a shelter.” “It’s not equipped for patients,” stated Dr. Abu-Al Rish.
The World Health Organization reported that the recent raid has rendered the last significant health facility in northern Gaza non-operational.
According to a post on X on Friday evening, initial reports suggest that several key departments suffered significant damage and destruction during the raid.
Nadav Shoshani, the international spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), reported in a post on Friday evening on X that a “small fire broke out in an empty building inside the hospital and is under control.”
He stated that IDF troops were not present in the hospital at that time, noting that “after a preliminary examination, no connection was found between IDF activity and the fire.”
Just hours later, the director of Kamal Adwan Hospital reported that around 50 individuals had lost their lives, including five medical personnel, due to a series of Israeli air strikes aimed at the area surrounding the hospital.
Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya reported that Israeli warplanes targeted a building opposite the hospital, resulting in the deaths of a paediatrician, a lab technician, and their families.
A third staff member, employed as a maintenance technician, was reportedly targeted and killed while hurrying to the location of the initial attack.
According to the statement, two paramedics from the hospital were 500 meters (1,640 feet) away when they were struck and killed by another attack. Their bodies were left in the street, inaccessible to those who might have reached them.
On Friday morning, the Israeli military stated that it was “unaware of strikes in the area of Kamal Adwan Hospital” and is currently investigating reports regarding the deaths of staff members.
Kamal Adwan Hospital in Beit Lahia has been facing increasing challenges due to an Israeli blockade that has been enforced on sections of northern Gaza since October. This blockade followed the military’s announcement of an offensive aimed at preventing Hamas from reestablishing its presence in the area.
The United Nations has reported that the region is experiencing a “near-total siege,” with the Israeli military imposing significant restrictions on aid deliveries to an area where approximately 10,000 to 15,000 individuals are still present.
In recent days, hospital administrators have made urgent appeals for protection, citing that the facility has frequently come under fire from Israeli shelling and explosives.
Oxfam reported that efforts by aid agencies to provide supplies to the region since October have faced significant challenges, citing “deliberate delays and systematic obstructions” imposed by the Israeli military.
