Gaza hospital raid/ Israel detains doctor/ Kamal Adwan Hospital crisis/ Gaza airstrikes/ Israel-Hamas conflict update/ DEIR AL BALAH/ Gaza Strip/ Newslooks/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Israeli forces detained Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, the director of Kamal Adwan Hospital, one of northern Gaza’s last functioning hospitals, amid escalating violence. The detention follows claims by Israel that Hamas operates from the hospital, which officials deny. Airstrikes continue across Gaza, with rising civilian casualties and devastation to the health sector.
Israel-Gaza Conflict Update: Quick Looks
- Director Detained: Israeli forces detained Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, Kamal Adwan Hospital’s director.
- Hospital Conditions: Kamal Adwan is now out of service; patients relocated under dire conditions.
- Health Sector Crisis: Repeated strikes and restrictions devastate Gaza’s medical facilities.
- Casualties: Over 45,400 Palestinians killed, half women and children, amid intensified airstrikes.
- Israel’s Offensive: Focus on Hamas infrastructure, including areas with hospitals.
- Regional Tensions: Houthis attack shipping; Israel retaliates with airstrikes in Yemen.
Israel Detains Gaza Hospital Director Amid Ongoing Airstrikes
Deep Look
Israeli forces detained Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, the director of Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza, on Friday amid ongoing military operations against Hamas. According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, troops stormed the hospital, forcing patients and staff outside in harsh winter conditions, and later transported Abu Safiya to an interrogation center. The incident highlights the deteriorating state of Gaza’s health sector as Israel’s offensive intensifies.
Kamal Adwan Hospital, one of the last functioning medical facilities in northern Gaza, had already been battered by repeated strikes over the past three months. Earlier this week, an attack killed five medical personnel.
The World Health Organization confirmed that the hospital is now “out of service,” further isolating patients in northern Gaza. Survivors were relocated to the Indonesian Hospital, itself previously raided, where conditions remain dire.
Israel has accused Hamas of using Kamal Adwan Hospital as a base for its operations, though no evidence has been provided. Hospital officials deny the claims, and humanitarian organizations, including MedGlobal, have expressed grave concerns over the targeting of medical facilities and personnel. MedGlobal noted that Abu Safiya’s detention is part of a troubling pattern, referencing the October arrest of five other staff members.
The broader conflict has devastated Gaza’s population, with the Health Ministry reporting over 45,400 deaths and 108,000 injuries, many among women and children. Israeli forces have effectively sealed off northern Gaza, leveling vast areas, including the towns of Jabaliya, Beit Hanoun, and Beit Lahiya. Tens of thousands have fled, but thousands remain trapped in the conflict zone.
The violence is rooted in Israel’s campaign to dismantle Hamas following the October 2023 attack on southern Israel that left 1,200 dead and 250 abducted. Some 100 Israelis remain captives in Gaza, many presumed dead. The conflict’s intensity has escalated as Israel conducts strikes against suspected Hamas infrastructure while maintaining pressure on northern Gaza.
Regional tensions are also escalating. On Saturday, air raid sirens sounded in Israel as the military intercepted a missile fired by Yemen’s Houthi rebels. In retaliation, Israeli warplanes bombed key infrastructure in Yemen. The Houthis, aligned with Iran, have intensified attacks on shipping in the Red Sea, demanding a ceasefire in Gaza.
Despite calls for restraint, the situation in Gaza continues to worsen, with humanitarian conditions reaching critical levels. The Health Ministry reported 48 deaths in the past 24 hours due to Israeli airstrikes, further straining an already collapsing healthcare system.
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