DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — On Friday, Israeli forces invaded one of the few remaining hospitals in northern Gaza, leading to the evacuation of numerous staff members and patients who were subjected to strip searches in the frigid winter weather, as reported by the health ministry of Gaza. The Israeli military denied these allegations, insisting that it neither entered the hospital nor set it ablaze, while accusing Hamas of misusing the hospital as a shield for their operations.
Kamal Adwan Hospital has been targeted multiple times in recent months due to the ongoing Israeli offensive against Hamas militants in nearby neighborhoods. According to reports from hospital staff, a recent strike on the facility resulted in the deaths of five medical personnel. The Israeli military claimed it was undertaking measures against Hamas infrastructure but stated that they had not entered the hospital as of late Friday. They maintained that Hamas militants operated within the hospital, though no evidence was provided to substantiate this claim, which hospital officials refuted.
The health ministry characterized the Israeli actions as severe violations of medical sanctity, stating that troops compelled medical staff and patients to gather in the courtyard and remove their clothing. Some individuals were reportedly taken to an undisclosed location, while others were relocated to the nearby Indonesian Hospital, which was rendered inoperable due to a recent Israeli attack.
During military operations in the area, Israeli forces often carry out mass detentions, frequently requiring men to remove their clothing down to their underwear as part of their alleged security protocols in search of Hamas fighters. Access for international reporters, including those from major news outlets, is restricted in Gaza, hindering independent verification of these claims.
Reports from the Health Ministry allege that fires were started by Israeli troops in various sections of Kamal Adwan, affecting the laboratory and surgical department. As of the last update, approximately 25 patients and 60 health workers were still present in the hospital, and attempts to confirm this information proved unsuccessful. An unidentified staff member conveyed a distressing message via audio shared on social media, declaring that fires were widespread throughout the hospital and expressing concern over patients disconnected from oxygen supplies.
An Israeli military spokesperson, Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani, refuted the allegations, claiming that while troops were not present in the hospital, a minor fire had erupted in an unoccupied building on the premises and was under control. He emphasized that a preliminary investigation had found “no connection” between military activities and the fire.
The ongoing troop blockade in Gaza has effectively cut basic supplies like food and aid off from many regions, particularly in the northern areas such as Jabaliya, Beit Hanoun, and Beit Lahiya, where tens of thousands of residents face possible famine conditions. The UN has reported that only four humanitarian deliveries were permitted from December 1 to December 23, amplifying concerns for the civilian population’s safety and well-being.
In recent developments, the Israeli human rights organization Physicians for Human Rights-Israel sought intervention from the country’s High Court to cease military actions against Kamal Adwan, arguing that the forced evacuation of the hospital would leave numerous residents stranded in precarious conditions. Their warnings come in light of prior incidents, noting that hospital staff members have faced lethal outcomes due to Israeli fire during the ongoing conflict.
Israel’s military campaign, which began in response to a significant attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023, which resulted in numerous casualties and mass abductions, has now extended over 15 months and inflicted grave damage on Gaza’s healthcare infrastructure. The onslaught has reportedly claimed the lives of over 45,400 Palestinians, with more than half being women and children, and left over 108,000 injured, although the official counts do not differentiate between combatants and non-combatants.
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to worsen with more than 90% of its 2.3 million residents displaced, many seeking refuge in makeshift tent camps in the southern and central regions of the territory. As nighttime temperatures drop significantly, families face severe hardships, relying on minimal resources for warmth and sustenance. Tragically, medical professionals have reported several recent exclusions to cold weather, including the deaths of at least three infants and one nurse, accentuating the dire situatie facing civilian populations in Gaza amidst ongoing hostilities.
