Northern Gaza’s Last Hospital Falls to Devastating Attack

In a devastating turn of events, Israeli forces have attacked and burned one of the last remaining hospitals in northern Gaza, the Kamal Adwan Hospital. This incident marks a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, which began after the deadly Hamas attacks on southern Israel on October 7, 2023.

Attack on Kamal Adwan Hospital

The Gaza Health Ministry reported that Israeli troops forcibly removed patients and medical staff from the hospital before setting fires in multiple areas, including the operating and surgical departments, laboratory, and emergency units. The ministry stated that 25 patients and 60 medical staff remained at the facility, down from 75 patients and 180 workers present before the raid.

Dr. Hussam Abu Safia’s Pleas for Help

Dr. Hussam Abu Safia, the director of Kamal Adwan Hospital, has been pleading online for days, urgently calling for international help to save his family and the remaining patients at the hospital. In a series of desperate posts on social media, Dr. Abu Safia has shared harrowing images of the hospital’s destruction, including burnt-out operating rooms, injured patients, and medical staff trying to save lives amidst the chaos. One particularly photo shows newborn babies wrapped in blankets, lying on makeshift beds as the hospital’s incubators have stopped working due to the continuous intentional bombardment of the fuel supplies that powered the generators.

Patients Caught in the Inferno

Among the victims were critically ill patients, including those in the operating and surgical departments, who were unable to escape the flames. Dr. Hussam Abu Safia, the hospital’s director, stated that several arrests were made of staff inside the hospital and, “The Israeli army is burning all the operating departments in the hospital while medical staff is still present inside.” Eyewitness accounts describe scenes of chaos and desperation as medical staff tried to save their patients amidst the inferno. The Gaza Health Ministry reported that several patients, including children and the elderly, suffered severe burns and smoke inhalation, with many succumbing to their injuries.

Allegations and Denials

The Israeli military claimed that the hospital was targeted due to the presence of Hamas militants and infrastructure within the facility. However, hospital officials have denied these allegations, emphasizing that the hospital was solely focused on providing medical care to those in need.

Israeli forces have launched multiple attacks on medical facilities in northern Gaza, severely impacting the region’s healthcare system. The Palestinian Health Ministry noted that the three public hospitals operating in northern Gaza—Beit Hanoun Hospital, Indonesian Hospital, and Kamal Adwan Hospital—are now all out of service.

Impact on Gaza’s Healthcare System

Since the escalation of conflict in October 2023, Israeli airstrikes and artillery shelling have repeatedly targeted these hospitals, causing extensive damage and leading to their eventual closure. On October 11, 2023, the Indonesian Hospital was hit by airstrikes, resulting in the destruction of critical infrastructure and the deaths of several patients and healthcare workers. Just a week later, on October 18, 2023, Beit Hanoun Hospital suffered significant damage from artillery shelling, leading to the evacuation of its maternity and pediatric wards to other overburdened facilities The continuous targeting of medical facilities has left thousands of Palestinians without access to essential medical care.

Historical Context and Human Rights Violations

Even during the horrors of World War II, the Auschwitz concentration camp, infamous for its atrocities, maintained an infirmary within the camp. This facility, despite its grim conditions and the broader context of genocide, provided some level of medical care to prisoners. The deliberate targeting and destruction of Gaza’s last hospital, where patients and medical staff were forcibly removed and the facility set ablaze, represents a profound violation of human rights and international humanitarian law. It underscores a level of cruelty that disregards the sanctity of medical care and the protection of the sick and wounded, which are fundamental principles even in the darkest chapters of history. The international community must recognize and condemn such actions to uphold the basic tenets of humanity and ensure that medical facilities remain safe havens in times of conflict.

International human rights organizations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have condemned the attacks on medical facilities, stating that such actions constitute violations of international humanitarian law and could amount to war crimes. The United Nations has also accused Israel of perpetrating a “concerted policy to destroy Gaza’s healthcare system” as part of a broader assault on the enclave. Targeting hospitals and medical staff is a breach of the Geneva Conventions, which protect medical facilities and personnel in conflict zones.

International Condemnation

The world continues to watch on in horror as the very institutions that were meant to protect against such atrocities yet again fail to stand up to the evils of society. The international community, human rights organizations, and compassionate individuals worldwide are grappling with the harsh realities imposed by those who hold power over us.

In the face of such despair, the resilience and courage of the medical staff and civilians in Gaza stand as a testament to the enduring human spirit. Their determination to survive and seek justice in the darkest of times is a powerful reminder of our collective responsibility to strive for a more just and compassionate world. The time for action is now, and it must be swift, decisive, and unwavering in its commitment to humanity.