In brief
The Israeli military has compelled the evacuation of Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza, declaring the area as a "Hamas terrorist stronghold", following a series of deadly airstrikes that resulted in significant civilian and medical staff fatalities.
The Israeli military has enforced a rapid evacuation of Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza, with reports emerging of multiple fatalities following recent airstrikes in the vicinity of the medical facility. Medics revealed that around 07:00 on Friday, military officials provided just 15 minutes for hospital staff and patients to evacuate to the courtyard. Subsequently, soldiers entered the hospital and began removing those who remained. An Israeli military statement indicated that operations were underway in the area, defined by Israel as a stronghold for Hamas. They claimed to have facilitated the secure evacuation of civilians and medical personnel prior to their operations. However, the military did not specify where evacuees would be relocated. The hospital's nursing department head, Eid Sabbah, expressed concerns over the safety of patients, particularly those in critical condition dependent on ventilators. He indicated that should the military persist in moving patients, they would require specialized transport vehicles. This operation happened shortly after the hospital's director, Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, reported that around 50 people had died due to recent airstrikes, including five medical personnel. He noted that an adjacent building had been struck, claiming the lives of a pediatrician, a lab technician, and their families while a maintenance technician was killed when he rushed to assist after the first attack. Additionally, two paramedics were reportedly killed while attending to another casualty, with their bodies left unclaimed amid ongoing military action in the area. The Israeli military, however, asserted that it was "unaware of strikes in the area of Kamal Adwan hospital" and was investigating claims regarding fallen medical staff. Under heightened Israeli blockades since October, Kamal Adwan Hospital in Beit Lahia has faced an escalating siege, with the UN noting a near-total restriction on aid access for an estimated 10,000 to 15,000 civilians in the region. Hospital administrators have made urgent appeals for protection, citing consistent targeting by Israeli strikes. Aid organization Oxfam reported that efforts to deliver supplies during the blockade had faced significant delays and systematic obstructive measures from the Israeli military.
