Gaza hospital raid/ Kamal Adwan evacuation/ Gaza humanitarian crisis/ Israeli-Palestinian conflict 2024/ DEIR AL-BALAH/ Gaza Strip/ Newslooks/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Israeli troops raided the Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza, forcibly evacuating patients and staff before setting fires throughout the facility, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. This marks another blow to Gaza’s collapsing healthcare system as Israel’s 15-month military campaign continues. Israel claims Hamas uses hospitals as bases, though it provided no evidence for its assertions.
Israeli Raid on Gaza Hospital Sparks Outrage: Quick Looks
- What Happened:
- Israeli troops raided Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza on Friday.
- Medical staff and patients were forced out, some reportedly disrobed for security checks.
- Parts of the hospital, including its surgery department and lab, were set ablaze.
- Key Context:
- Israel claims Hamas uses hospitals as operational bases, though evidence is lacking.
- Kamal Adwan is one of the last operational hospitals in northern Gaza after months of siege.
- Nearby Indonesian Hospital was also raided earlier this week and rendered non-operational.
- Humanitarian Impact:
- Tens of thousands have been displaced from northern Gaza; remaining civilians face severe shortages of food and aid.
- Physicians for Human Rights-Israel petitioned against attacks on Kamal Adwan, calling it a lifeline for thousands.
- The Broader Offensive:
- Israel’s campaign has killed over 45,400 Palestinians, including many women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
- More than 90% of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents have been displaced.
Israeli Troops Storm and Burn Gaza Hospital, Patients Forcibly Evacuated
Deep Look
The Raid at Kamal Adwan Hospital
Israeli forces stormed the Kamal Adwan Hospital early Friday in what Gaza’s Health Ministry called a devastating attack on one of the few remaining operational hospitals in northern Gaza. Staff and patients were forced outside, with reports that some were stripped to their underclothes for security checks.
Audio messages from the hospital’s director described chaotic scenes, with flames engulfing sections of the facility and patients disconnected from life-saving equipment. The ministry said Israeli troops relocated some patients to the nearby Indonesian hospital, which itself had been knocked out of operation days earlier.
Israel’s military has alleged that Hamas fighters operate from within Kamal Adwan, though it has yet to provide evidence. Hospital officials have consistently denied these claims.
The Humanitarian Crisis in Northern Gaza
The northern Gaza districts of Jabaliya, Beit Hanoun, and Beit Lahiya have been largely sealed off since October, with civilians enduring starvation conditions. The UN reported only four humanitarian deliveries to the area this month, exacerbating fears of famine.
Physicians for Human Rights-Israel recently petitioned the High Court of Justice to prevent attacks on Kamal Adwan, warning that its evacuation would leave northern Gaza residents without critical medical care.
The Broader Offensive
The raid on Kamal Adwan is part of Israel’s broader campaign against Hamas, launched in retaliation for the group’s Oct. 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel. Over 45,400 Palestinians have been killed in the 15-month conflict, with more than half of the casualties being women and children, according to the Health Ministry. Gaza’s health system has been devastated, with repeated strikes on hospitals and clinics.
Key Stats
- Deaths in Gaza: Over 45,400 Palestinians killed
- Wounded: 108,000+
- Displacement: Over 90% of Gaza’s 2.3 million population displaced
- Hostages Held in Gaza: ~100 Israelis, ~1/3 believed dead
