Israeli forces raided Kamal Adwan Hospital, setting it ablaze and displacing hundreds, in Gaza's latest health crisis. WHO called it a "death sentence" as calls for ceasefire intensify globally.
The escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza reached a critical point this week as Israeli forces raided the Kamal Adwan Hospital, the last operational medical facility in northern Gaza. The hospital, vital for providing medical aid to the besieged region, was set ablaze and rendered non-functional, prompting international condemnation. The World Health Organization (WHO) has called the repeated attacks on healthcare facilities a “death sentence” for the Palestinian population, with its spokesperson emphasizing, “This horror must end.”
Chronology of Events
December 25, 2024: Raid on Kamal Adwan Hospital
- Israeli soldiers stormed the Kamal Adwan Hospital, claiming it was being used as a Hamas stronghold, though no evidence was provided.
- Gaza’s Ministry of Health reported that Israeli forces ordered 350 individuals, including 75 patients and 185 medical staff, to evacuate the facility under threat.
- Large sections of the hospital, including its surgical department, laboratory, and storage units, were deliberately burned, and its generators were destroyed.
- Witnesses reported that Israeli soldiers conducted field inspections and allegedly carried out executions in the hospital’s vicinity.
December 24, 2024: Kamal Adwan Under Siege
- The WHO had already flagged worsening conditions at the hospital, stating that 60 health workers and 25 critically ill patients were stranded inside, relying on limited resources.
- Patients in moderate-to-severe conditions were forcibly transferred to the Indonesian Hospital, which lacked essential medical supplies, electricity, and water.
Fatalities and Wider Impact
- Health officials revealed that five medical staff, including a pediatrician, were killed by Israeli forces during the hospital siege.
- Youssef Abu el-Rish, Gaza’s deputy health minister, stated: “The operating and surgery departments, laboratory, ambulance units, and warehouses have been completely burned.”
- Video footage showed smoke billowing from the hospital as the surrounding area faced heavy bombardment.
Global Reactions
WHO and UN Statements
The WHO expressed its outrage, emphasizing, “The systematic dismantling of Gaza’s health system is a death sentence for thousands.” The UN’s World Health Organization spokesperson, Margaret Harris, remarked: “What Gaza’s hospitals are exposed to is horrific, representing punishment for the population.”
Hamas and Human Rights Organizations
- Hamas refuted Israeli claims, urging the UN to launch an independent investigation. It accused Israel of engaging in genocide with the support of Western allies, particularly the United States.
- Organizations including the UN, Human Rights Watch, and Amnesty International have reported that Israeli actions in Gaza align with the crime of genocide.
Calls for Justice
- On Friday, 14 countries joined South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
Broader Context and Humanitarian Crisis
Ongoing Assault on Gaza
- Since October 2023, more than 45,300 Palestinians—predominantly women and children—have been killed.
- The vast majority of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents have been displaced, with most living in overcrowded shelters and makeshift camps.
Systematic Destruction
- Areas surrounding Jabalia, Beit Hanoun, and Beit Lahiya have been cleared of residents and largely destroyed, fueling speculation of Israel’s intent to establish a buffer zone.
- Reports from Al Jazeera’s Tareq Abu Azzoum highlighted that the ongoing blockade has led to a famine-like situation in northern Gaza.
Source: Al Jazeera
