The forcible evacuation of Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza and the reported deaths of dozens of people in Israeli airstrikes have intensified scrutiny of the humanitarian situation in the region.
This incident highlights the devastating impact of the ongoing conflict on Gaza’s already fragile healthcare system, leaving civilians and medical personnel in dire conditions.
The evacuation occurred on Friday morning, with the Israeli military citing the hospital as a “Hamas terrorist stronghold” as justification for the operation.
Medical staff were given only 15 minutes to move patients and staff into the courtyard before Israeli forces entered and removed the remaining individuals.
Critically ill patients, including those in intensive care, were transferred to the Indonesian Hospital, which medics have described as unfit for care due to damaged infrastructure, lack of power, and water shortages.
Dr. Abu-Al Rish, Gaza’s deputy minister of health, stated that the facility is not equipped to handle patient needs, labeling it more of a shelter than a hospital.
The World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed that the raid rendered Kamal Adwan Hospital inoperable, with key departments severely damaged.
Meanwhile, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) acknowledged facilitating the evacuation but denied responsibility for a fire that broke out in the hospital complex, describing it as unrelated to their operations.
Contradictory accounts from the hospital’s director, Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, reported that Israeli airstrikes targeting the vicinity had killed about 50 people, including five medical staff and their families.
This evacuation marks another episode in a series of escalating actions that have left northern Gaza under a near-total blockade since October.
According to the United Nations, the siege has severely restricted aid access, leaving thousands of residents trapped without adequate food, water, or medical care.
Humanitarian organizations, including Oxfam, have criticized the Israeli military for systematic obstructions and deliberate delays in aid delivery, exacerbating the crisis.
Reports from Kamal Adwan Hospital describe a deteriorating environment where desperate appeals for protection have gone unanswered.
Despite calls for accountability and adherence to international humanitarian law, the ongoing conflict continues to take a catastrophic toll on civilian lives and critical infrastructure in Gaza.
