The evacuation of al-Awda hospital leaves the region without any health facilities, exacerbating an already dire situation for civilians.
**Last Hospital in Northern Gaza Faces Evacuation Amid Intensifying Conflict**
**Last Hospital in Northern Gaza Faces Evacuation Amid Intensifying Conflict**
The closure of the last operating hospital in North Gaza after an Israeli evacuation order highlights the ongoing humanitarian crisis.
Despite appeals to protect medical facilities, the Israeli military has ordered the evacuation of al-Awda hospital in Jabalia, leaving the North Gaza governorate without a functioning hospital. Hospital director Dr. Mohammed Salha reported that patients were evacuated late Thursday evening as a security measure against threats of military action from Israeli forces.
Dr. Salha conveyed the hospital's anguish at being forced to evacuate, stating their efforts to care for patients were hindered by the siege and escalating violence in the area. He recounted negotiations with the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) that lasted for several hours before the patients were safely transferred to al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City. The hospital, which had been operational during ongoing hostilities, is now fully incapacitated, according to reports from the World Health Organization (WHO), which emphasizes that the closure signifies a critical loss for civilians in the region.
The evacuation was prompted by Israel's declaration of the area as a combat zone, following previous attacks on the hospital's facilities, which resulted in injuries to staff and damage to essential medical supplies. Humanitarian agencies have condemned the military actions and called for the protection of medical establishments, asserting that civilians must not be subjected to violence during conflict.
As hostilities continue, the humanitarian situation in Gaza remains critical, with many residents unable to access basic health services. The UN and various aid organizations are raising alarms about the increasing risk of famine among the population, prompting calls for enhanced aid access.
In recent days, Israeli bombardments have led to significant casualties, with reports estimating over 54,000 fatalities in Gaza since the conflict escalated in October. The international community, including France, has urged for increased humanitarian assistance and pressured Israel for better access to aid, while the IDF continues its military operations amid accusations of humanitarian violations.
As the situation in Gaza unfolds, the safety and wellbeing of its civilians continue to hang in the balance, caught between military strategy and desperate humanitarian needs.
Dr. Salha conveyed the hospital's anguish at being forced to evacuate, stating their efforts to care for patients were hindered by the siege and escalating violence in the area. He recounted negotiations with the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) that lasted for several hours before the patients were safely transferred to al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City. The hospital, which had been operational during ongoing hostilities, is now fully incapacitated, according to reports from the World Health Organization (WHO), which emphasizes that the closure signifies a critical loss for civilians in the region.
The evacuation was prompted by Israel's declaration of the area as a combat zone, following previous attacks on the hospital's facilities, which resulted in injuries to staff and damage to essential medical supplies. Humanitarian agencies have condemned the military actions and called for the protection of medical establishments, asserting that civilians must not be subjected to violence during conflict.
As hostilities continue, the humanitarian situation in Gaza remains critical, with many residents unable to access basic health services. The UN and various aid organizations are raising alarms about the increasing risk of famine among the population, prompting calls for enhanced aid access.
In recent days, Israeli bombardments have led to significant casualties, with reports estimating over 54,000 fatalities in Gaza since the conflict escalated in October. The international community, including France, has urged for increased humanitarian assistance and pressured Israel for better access to aid, while the IDF continues its military operations amid accusations of humanitarian violations.
As the situation in Gaza unfolds, the safety and wellbeing of its civilians continue to hang in the balance, caught between military strategy and desperate humanitarian needs.
