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Israel’s military raid on a Gaza hospital has put the last major health facility in the northern part of the besieged Strip out of service, worsening the region’s worst humanitarian crisis, the United Nations health agency said.
The attack on Kamal Adwan hospital intensified Israel’s offensive in northern Gaza that began in October, killing hundreds and displacing tens of thousands.
The Israeli army is fighting to prevent a regroupment of Hamas in northern Gaza, where most of the population has been forced to flee by Israel’s 14-month offensive against the Palestinian militant group.
According to the World Health Organization, initial reports indicate that major parts of the medical facilities were badly burned in Friday’s raid.
60 health workers, including those on ventilators, and 25 critically ill patients remain in the hospital, while others were forced to evacuate to another damaged hospital.
“The systematic dismantling of the health system in Gaza is a death sentence for tens of thousands of Palestinians in need of health care,” the World Health Organization said in a statement late Friday. “This horror must end and health care must be protected.”
The Palestinian Ministry of Health said Kamal Adwan’s surgical and operating rooms, laboratory, maintenance, ambulance rooms and warehouses were completely burnt.
“The occupation army is moving the sick and wounded at gunpoint. . . Indonesian hospitals lack medical supplies, water, medicine and even electricity and generators, he said in a statement. “There are patients who die all the time because of difficult circumstances.”
The Israeli army said it had “started operations” in the Kamal Adwan area following information that Hamas militants were using the hospital.
The military is “conducting targeted operations to mitigate casualties among civilians, patients and medical personnel who are not involved in the area,” he added. He said the forces were not responsible for the fire at the hospital.
Hamas has denied that its fighters are using the hospital for military operations.
UN agencies and humanitarian aid groups have repeatedly condemned Israel’s attacks on medical facilities in Gaza since the Palestinian group’s 7/2023 attack on Hamas killed 1,200 people.
The World Health Organization, which confirmed 516 attacks on health facilities and medical transport in Gaza, said more than 90 percent of remote medical facilities were damaged or destroyed.
Israel’s offensive in northern Gaza continues before US President-elect Donald Trump returns to the White House next month to demand an end to the fighting and the release of remaining Israeli hostages.
The operation reduced Jabaliya, Gaza’s largest pre-war refugee camp and home to more than 100,000 people, to rubble and expanded to neighboring Beit Lahiya, home to Kamal Adwan Hospital.
On Saturday, Israeli military forces began operations in the Beit Hanon district, he said.
Palestinian health officials say the Israeli offensive has killed more than 45,000 people, and forced most of the 2.3mn people from their homes.
