Tel Aviv [Israel]: Israeli forces raided Kamal Adwan Hospital, the last functioning medical facility in Northern Gaza, damaging the building and evacuating its patients and staff, according to CNN. The hospital’s director, Hussam Abu Safiya, was arrested on allegations of being a “Hamas terrorist operative,” the report said.
The raid has left the hospital devoid of patients, including critically ill individuals, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed. The United Nations warned that the incident has further endangered approximately 75,000 Palestinians still remaining in northern Gaza.
Mohammed Salha, director of Al Awda Hospital in northern Gaza, described the health system’s dire state. Speaking to CNN, he said, “The Adwan Hospital is totally out of service. My facility is running out of fuel and overwhelmed with patients despite limited supplies. We have one surgeon who only performs operations in life-threatening cases. The health system in the north has completely deteriorated. We are working to save what is left.”
The raid comes amid escalating violence in northern Gaza. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported killing dozens of Hamas gunmen in ambushes near Jabaliya. According to the IDF, these squads were neutralized with gunfire and tank shelling after they were seen fleeing with weapons.
This follows Hamas’s October 7 attacks on Israeli communities near the Gaza border, where over 1,200 people were killed, and 252 Israelis and foreigners were taken hostage. Of the 97 hostages still unaccounted for, more than 30 have been declared dead.
The ongoing conflict has drawn global attention to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with international organizations emphasizing the urgent need for medical aid and protection for civilians.