Israeli Military Forces Evacuation of Kamal Adwan Hospital Amid Air Strikes in Northern Gaza

Kamal Adwan Hospital, one of the few operational medical facilities in northern Gaza, faced forced evacuation by Israeli forces, leading to chaos and danger for critically ill patients. Reports confirm increasing casualties as air strikes continue to target the area.

In a harrowing development on Friday, the Israeli military forcibly evacuated the Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza, a rare remaining bastion of medical care in the heavily besieged area. Eyewitness accounts from medics indicate that the forced evacuation was shrouded in chaos as the military provided a mere 15 minutes for patients and staff to leave. Eid Sabbah, head of nursing at the hospital, recounted that at 7 AM, the military entered the facility with the intention of relocating patients amid ongoing strikes that had already reportedly claimed the lives of several individuals in the vicinity.

According to the Israeli military, their operation focused on targeting what it classified as a "Hamas terrorist stronghold," and they claimed to have facilitated the evacuation of civilians and medical personnel prior to commencing operations. However, details about the displaced patients and their new locations have yet to be clarified. An Israeli official hinted earlier in the week that patients could be transferred to the nearby Indonesian Hospital, which had also undergone military evacuation.

Dr. Sabbah expressed grave concerns, particularly for critically ill patients reliant on vital equipment, stating, “It’s dangerous because there are patients in the ICU department in a coma and in need of ventilation machines and moving them will put them in danger.” He emphasized the necessity for specialized equipment to safely transport these vulnerable patients.

The situation intensified following a string of airstrikes that, according to Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, resulted in the deaths of approximately 50 individuals, including five medical staff members. In one striking incident, a building opposite the hospital was bombed, claiming the lives of a pediatrician, a lab technician, and their families, alongside a maintenance technician who was killed while responding to the initial strike. Disturbingly, two paramedics also fell victim to an airstrike while just 500 meters away from the hospital and their remains were left unattended in the street due to ongoing hostilities.

The Israeli military responded to these reports, claiming ignorance of any strikes near Kamal Adwan Hospital and asserted they were investigating the claims involving the deaths of medical personnel. The hospital, located in Beit Lahia, has been enduring a strict Israeli blockade since the onset of military operations aimed at countering Hamas activity in northern Gaza. The United Nations had previously denounced the situation, describing the area as experiencing a "near-total siege," where essential access for humanitarian aid remains critically limited amidst the presence of tens of thousands of civilians.

As these distressing events unfold, hospital officials continue to desperately appeal for protection and assistance, highlighting the relentless attacks that have made healthcare functions perilous and systemic. Oxfam has also criticized the Israeli military for obstructing aid delivery attempts, pointing to deliberate delays that have exacerbated the humanitarian crisis in the region.