Emergency reports from the Kamal Adwan hospital in Gaza detail a chaotic situation as the Israeli military enforces a forced evacuation of patients, with ongoing airstrikes leading to significant casualties nearby.
Israel Forces Evacuation of Kamal Adwan Hospital Amidst Intensifying Air Strikes
Israel Forces Evacuation of Kamal Adwan Hospital Amidst Intensifying Air Strikes
Israeli military orders evacuation of a critical medical facility in northern Gaza following a series of deadly air strikes, amid claims of severe risks to patients.
The tension in northern Gaza escalated on Friday when the Israeli military ordered the Kamal Adwan hospital to evacuate its patients and staff, giving a mere 15 minutes to comply with the directive. Medics reported that this action followed lethal airstrikes in the vicinity, raising urgent concerns over the safety of those still inside the facility, particularly patients in critical care who rely on ventilation support. Dr. Eid Sabbah, head of nursing at the hospital, described the dangerous conditions as troops entered to facilitate the evacuation.
Despite the gravity of the situation, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) claimed to be "unaware" of recent strikes and launched an investigation into reports of casualties among medical staff. The evacuation comes amid reports that as many as 50 individuals, including five medical personnel, were killed due to airstrikes targeting parts of the hospital's vicinity. Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, director of the hospital, detailed the losses, including those of a pediatrician and a lab technician killed when their building was struck, as well as two paramedics who met their fate just a short distance away from the facility.
While the Israeli military has plans to move patients to the nearby Indonesian hospital, which has also been evacuated, fears prevail concerning the transportation of critically ill individuals. The UN has condemned the situation, describing the area under siege with restricted access to life-saving aid, as thousands remain trapped in dire conditions.
Medics and hospital administrators have consistently called for protection amid persistent targeting of the hospital, raising alarm over the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, exacerbated by systematic obstacles to aid efforts.
