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Israel Orders Evacuation of Gaza's Kamal Adwan Hospital as Violence Escalates
One of the few operational hospitals in northern Gaza, Kamal Adwan Hospital, was forcibly evacuated by the Israeli military on Tuesday, medical sources said. The development came amidst reports of scores of casualties caused by the Israel airstrikes around the healthcare facility.
Forced Evacuation Amidst Airstrikes
Kamal Adwan Hospital's nursing department head Eid Sabbah told me the Israeli military, at about 07:00 on Friday, had ordered the administration to get the patients and staff evacuated within 15 minutes. They told the patients and the medical personnel to collect at the courtyard of the hospital.
Following the eviction order, Israeli forces stormed into the hospital and started the eviction of the remaining patients, Dr Sabbah added.
"It is dangerous because at the ICU department, some of the patients are already in a coma and also rely on the ventilator so shifting them can cost their life," explained Dr. Sabbah. He asserted that patients in critical conditions require specialized vehicles for relocation.
Casualty Reports
No one was injured in the evacuation, but airstrikes in the area reportedly killed dozens of people earlier. The hospital's director, Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, said 50 people had been killed, including five medical staff. One building next to the hospital was struck, killing a pediatrician and a lab technician along with their families.
In addition, a maintenance technician en route to attend to the first strike was also killed, and two paramedics were killed 500 meters from the hospital in yet another airstrike. Recovery of their bodies has not been possible due to ongoing fighting.
Israeli Military Response
The IDF said it was "unaware" of any strikes in the area and is investigating reports of the medical personnel casualties. Earlier this week, an Israeli official said the plan was to transfer patients and staff from Kamal Adwan Hospital to the Indonesian Hospital nearby. But that facility had already been evacuated by Israeli forces on Tuesday.
The Blockade's Impact
Kamal Adwan Hospital in Beit Lahia had barely been operational under an increasingly hostile Israeli blockade. The blockade, which tightly limits the volume of basic supplies and humanitarian aid reaching the territory, has been strictly applied since October when an Israeli military incursion began. The United Nations has called the situation a "near-total siege" and estimates 10,000 to 15,000 people remain in the affected area.
Appeals for Protection
Its administrators have issued urgent appeals in recent weeks for protection. The facility has been repeatedly shelled and hit with explosives, they say, risking both patients and medical staff.
All humanitarian organizations, including Oxfam, have expressed frustration at what is seen as systematic delays and obstructions by the Israeli military, which have prevented delivery of much-needed supplies in the area. "Aid deliveries since October have not succeeded," said an Oxfam spokesperson, blaming "deliberate actions that have worsened the humanitarian crisis."
Conclusion
In forced evacuation, Kamal Adwan Hospital is the latest grim demonstration of northern Gaza, as healthcare facilities are becoming increasingly insecure for both patients and staff. As the conflict escalates, the international community's call for humanitarian aid and the protection of medical facilities becomes grave.
More on this unfolding crisis as it develops.