Medical staff at Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza reported that the facility has been surrounded by Israeli forces, who are demanding the evacuation of patients and staff after a nearby airstrike reportedly killed around 50 people, according to local health officials.
According to the reports of Leaders team, Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, the hospital’s director, confirmed that Israeli forces have besieged the hospital in Beit Lahiya and ordered its evacuation. Witnesses inside the facility corroborated the account, stating that those present were instructed to gather in the hospital compound’s yard.
Videos shared from inside the hospital depict scenes of chaos, including a fire in the archive department with heavy gunfire audible in the background. The hospital has faced repeated attacks in recent months, with ongoing airstrikes severely impacting its operations and the surrounding area.
Medical Staff and Civilians Killed
As per the sources of Leaders team, on Thursday, approximately 50 people, including five medical workers, were killed in an airstrike near the hospital, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health and Dr. Abu Safiya. Among the deceased was pediatrician Dr. Ahmed Samour, who died alongside his family when a strike hit the building where they lived, opposite the hospital. A lab technician and a maintenance worker also lost their lives in the attack.
Additionally, two paramedics were killed while attempting to reach the hospital. Their bodies remain in the street, inaccessible due to ongoing hostilities, according to Dr. Abu Safiya.
Escalation in Northern Gaza
Since October, Israeli forces have intensified aerial and ground operations in northern Gaza, targeting what they describe as a resurgent Hamas presence. The prolonged assault has devastated neighborhoods, resulted in significant civilian casualties, and exacerbated shortages of essential resources, including food, water, and medical supplies.
The hospital has reportedly been shelled daily, raided multiple times, and directly targeted by Israeli forces, resulting in the deaths of several healthcare workers and patients, according to eyewitness accounts.
Allegations and Humanitarian Concerns
The Israeli military has claimed that Hamas uses hospitals as operational centers, storing weapons and conducting military activities within these facilities. However, the World Health Organization (WHO) has stated that Israeli authorities have denied requests for humanitarian access to Kamal Adwan Hospital, including the deployment of international emergency medical teams to provide critical care.
Physicians for Human Rights, an Israeli organization, has filed a petition with Israel’s High Court, urging an immediate halt to attacks on the hospital. The petition highlights the dire consequences of ongoing violence, stating that evacuation would leave thousands of residents in northern Gaza without access to medical care, especially for those too critically injured to be transported.
Growing Crisis
The escalating conflict continues to strain Gaza’s healthcare system, with Kamal Adwan Hospital symbolizing the growing humanitarian crisis. Efforts to address the devastation and secure aid for the injured remain fraught with challenges, as hostilities show no signs of abating.
