In brief
In the ongoing conflict in Gaza, Israeli forces executed a forced evacuation at Kamal Adwan Hospital, raising concerns over the safety of patients, particularly those in critical care, amid recent deadly airstrikes in the area.
The Israeli military has ordered an evacuation of the Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza, a health facility that has remained one of the last fully operational hospitals in the region, as the airstrikes continue to take a grave toll on civilian life. The directive came after reports indicated that dozens were killed, including medical personnel, in recent bombardments surrounding the hospital.Eid Sabbah, who leads the nursing department at Kamal Adwan, recounted that the military notified hospital officials in the early hours of Friday, providing only a brief 15-minute window for the evacuation of patients and staff to the facility's courtyard. As the military intervention proceeded, Dr. Sabbah confirmed that Israeli troops had begun to remove remaining patients from the hospital.The Israeli military, however, claimed it was "unaware" of strikes in the vicinity of the hospital, asserting it was currently reviewing the claims of medical personnel casualties. Dr. Sabbah expressed deep concern over the difficult conditions imposed by the evacuation, particularly for patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) who rely on ventilators. He stated that if the Israeli military plans to continue the evacuation of these critical patients, specialized transport would be essential to ensure their safety.While there have been no immediate reports of injuries during this evacuation process, an earlier account from Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, the hospital's director, described a catastrophic scenario where a series of airstrikes resulted in approximately 50 fatalities, which included five healthcare workers. The attacks struck a building opposite the hospital, where a pediatrician, a lab technician, and their family members lost their lives. Another maintenance staff member was killed while responding to the initial strike, and two paramedics were also targeted a distance away from the hospital.The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) issued a statement on Friday indicating their lack of awareness regarding the incidents and reiterated they were investigating the reports concerning the deaths of medical staff.Since the beginning of the intensified conflict in October, Kamal Adwan Hospital in Beit Lahia has faced increasing challenges due to a comprehensive Israeli blockade, further complicating humanitarian aid efforts. The United Nations has characterized the situation there as a "near-total siege," as access for humanitarian assistance to the area is heavily restricted, affecting an estimated 10,000 to 15,000 individuals.Desperate calls for protection from the hospital's administration have intensified, citing frequent shelling and explosive attacks on the facility itself. Aid agencies, including Oxfam, reported ongoing difficulties in delivering needed supplies to the region, attributing these setbacks to what they describe as "deliberate delays and systematic obstructions" by the Israeli military.
