At least four medical staff members were killed during a series of airstrikes that targeted Gaza’s Kamal Adwan Hospital, as confirmed by the facility’s director and the enclave’s Civil Defense agency. Hossam Abu Safieh, the director of one of the last operational health centers in northern Gaza, described significant bombardments alongside direct gunfire that struck the northern and western sides of the hospital. He reported that no surgeons remained at the hospital to assist patients.
The hospital faced an incursion by Israeli forces, who reportedly forced all staff, patients, and displaced individuals into the courtyard before allowing them to re-enter several hours later. Richard Peeperkorn, spokesperson for the World Health Organization (WHO), noted that there was no prior warning or evacuation order issued before the bombing occurred, stating that only rumors circulated that instilled panic among those present.
This incident follows a significant development only a week earlier when an Indonesian emergency medical delegation, operating under WHO facilitation, was allowed access to the hospital for the first time in 60 days. The facility had been experiencing severe shortages of essential medical supplies, including fuel.
Abu Safieh indicated that some staff members, including those in the emergency medical team, were ordered to leave the premises permanently. Peeperkorn highlighted the troubling nature of the airstrike coming so soon after the medical delegation’s entry, emphasizing the fear that permeated the environment as medical staff felt compelled to abandon their posts.
Despite being “minimally functional,” Kamal Adwan Hospital struggles to provide care to the thousands of patients in dire need throughout Gaza, with the WHO reporting that approximately 12,000 individuals require urgent medical evacuation—yet only 78 have managed to leave so far.
The Gaza Ministry of Health condemned the Israeli military for alleged war crimes committed at Kamal Adwan Hospital, stating that a range of violent actions occurred both inside and surrounding the facility. The Ministry emphasized that those who remain are in critical condition and necessitate immediate medical attention.
The Israeli military has not publicly responded to the attack on the hospital. The region, especially Beit Lahiya, has seen heightened military operations, compelling thousands of individuals to evacuate due to the escalating conflict.
Reports indicate that the Israeli military has been ordering evacuations of medical facilities in northern Gaza while redirecting patients towards Gaza City, raising concerns about the strategic implications for military control. Hospitals, along with their staff and patients, are protected under international humanitarian law.
As the humanitarian situation continues to develop, the safety and rights of civilians and medical personnel remain critical issues, highlighting the urgent need for a resolution in this ongoing conflict.
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