Israel destroyed and burned northern Gaza’s last operational hospital, leading the World Health Organization (WHO) to demand an end to the horror and reiterate calls for hospitals to be protected.
According to Gaza health officials, Israeli occupation conducted deadly raids on the Kamal Adwan Hospital, ordering medical staff and patients to gather outside.
Several people were reportedly stripped and forced to walk toward southern Gaza.
The hospital’s director, Dr. Hussam Abu Safia, was reportedly taken to a detention facility along with numerous staff members for questioning.
“This morning’s raid on Kamal Adwan Hospital has put this last major health facility in North Gaza out of service,” the United Nations health agency said in a statement on social media.
“Initial reports indicate that some key departments were severely burnt and destroyed during the raid.”
In a later press release, WHO said: “Kamal Adwan is now empty. Yesterday evening, the remaining 15 critical patients, 50 caregivers and 20 health workers were transferred to Indonesian Hospital, which lacks the necessary equipment and supplies to provide adequate care. The movement and treatment of these critical patients under such conditions pose grave risks to their survival.”
“Hospitals have once again become battlegrounds, reminiscent of the destruction of the health system in Gaza City earlier this year.”
Israel said it launched the raid because the hospital “serves as a Hamas terrorist stronghold” without providing any evidence to back up its claim. Hamas “categorically” denied the allegation.
Between October and December, WHO attempted 21 missions to deliver emergency medical supplies to Kamal Adwan Hospital. Only 10 were partially successful.
Requests to send international emergency medical teams were consistently rejected despite the growing urgency for trauma care and emergency services.
Image: ©WHO
