Kamal Adwan Hospital Besieged: 600 Trapped, 38 Killed, as UN Warns of ‘Atrocity Crimes’ in Gaza

By Legal Wires 5 Minutes Read

As the Israel-Gaza conflict escalates, the Kamal Adwan Hospital in Beit Lahiya, one of the few remaining operational medical centers in northern Gaza, finds itself at the center of a dire humanitarian crisis. For over three weeks, the hospital has been under siege by Israeli forces, leaving 600 individuals, including patients, staff, and civilians seeking refuge, trapped within its walls. The is facing severe resource shortages, with the World Health Organization (WHO)and the United Nations warning of the unfolding “atrocity crimes” in the region. The international community is calling for immediate humanitarian access and adherence to international humanitarian law.

Kamal Adwan Hospital Under Siege

• The Palestinian health ministry has reported that Israeli military forces besieged the Kamal Adwan Hospital on Friday, ordering patients to the main courtyard while carrying out mass arrests.
• “At least two children have died in the intensive care unit after generators stopped and the oxygen station was targeted,” the ministry revealed, describing the situation as “alarmingly deteriorating.”
• Hussam Abu Safia, the hospital’s director, warned: “The hospital could become a mass grave, with one patient dying every hour due to the assault.”

Damage from Shelling and Raids

• On Thursday, Israeli tanks shelled the hospital compound, severely damaging the intensive care unit.
• The hospital director reported, “The intensive care unit has sustained significant damage, compromising the safety of critically ill patients.”
• The siege is part of a broader Israeli offensive in Gaza, now in its third week.

WHO and UN Express Grave Concerns

• WHO Chief Tedros Ghebreyesus stated: “We have lost contact with personnel at Kamal Adwan Hospital, which is overflowing with trauma cases and people seeking shelter.”
• Volker Turk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said that Israel’s offensive in northern Gaza “risks emptying the area of Palestinians, amounting to potential atrocity crimes.”
• The UN Human Rights Office criticized Israel’s military operations as “unlawful interference with humanitarian aid,” preventing aid access to northern Gaza hospitals, including Kamal Adwan.

Hospitals Under Fire: Indonesian Hospital Attack

• Another northern Gaza facility, the Indonesian Hospital in Beit Lahiya, was attacked and rendered non-functional due to fires that damaged its power generators. The displaced patients were redirected to Kamal Adwan.
• The Palestinian health ministry confirmed that Israeli forces “stormed” the hospital, detaining hundreds of patients, staff, and civilians who had sought refuge.
• The UN stressed the need for immediate humanitarian access to the besieged hospitals, stating that “thousands of people are in urgent need of medical assistance.”

Intensified Israeli Airstrikes in Gaza

• Friday saw heavy Israeli airstrikes on Khan Younis, with 38 casualties, including women and children. Ahmed al-Farra, a resident, described the harrowing experience: “As I tried to dig my mother out, a tank aimed at me. I had to dig her out in fear.”
• In Beit Lahiya, Israeli airstrikes targeted three houses, killing 25 individuals and injuring dozens.

International Efforts for Ceasefire

• Amid the escalating crisis, the United States has renewed efforts for a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas.
• Khalil al-Hayya, Hamas’s chief negotiator, arrived in Cairo for discussions led by Egypt and Qatar. The aim is to achieve a ceasefire, ensure the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, and establish a prisoners-for-hostages exchange.
• US and Israeli officials will meet in Doha in the coming days to pursue peace negotiations.

Source: Al Jazeera

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