DEIR AL BALAH, Gaza Strip — The Israeli military has detained the head of one of the few operational hospitals in northern Gaza amidst a series of overnight airstrikes that resulted in the deaths of nine individuals, including children, according to Palestinian health officials. The military accused Hamas militants of using the hospital, asserting that over 240 individuals were taken into custody.
Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, who manages the Kamal Adwan Hospital, was arrested on Friday along with many of his colleagues. The Health Ministry reported that Israeli forces stormed the hospital, compelling staff and patients to exit and subjecting them to humiliating treatment in cold weather.
The Israeli army admitted to detaining the hospital director for questioning, labeling him a suspected Hamas operative, though it did not provide any supporting evidence. An operation was conducted at the hospital, where the military claimed to have discovered weapons and exchanged fire with militants, whom they stated were “eliminated.” Military spokesman Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani noted to reporters that a significant number of those detained are believed to be associated with Hamas.
While denying claims of entering or igniting fires within the hospital, the military acknowledged ordering individuals outside. Officials from the hospital refuted allegations that Hamas operates within its premises.
Kamal Adwan has faced several airstrikes over the last three months due to an intensified Israeli military campaign in northern Gaza aimed at Hamas, which Israel asserts has reestablished a presence in the area. A recent strike on the hospital resulted in the deaths of five medical staff, according to the Health Ministry.
MedGlobal, a humanitarian organization associated with Abu Safiya, expressed deep concern regarding his arrest. They noted that this incident follows recent detentions of five other hospital staff members, labelling it a disturbing trend targeting medical personnel and facilities.
The ongoing military campaign, which has persisted for nearly 15 months, has severely hampered Gaza’s healthcare sector. The World Health Organization reported that the raid on Kamal Adwan has rendered it largely non-operational due to increasing access restrictions, emphasizing the urgent need for protection of health services.
Patients from Kamal Adwan have been relocated to the nearby Indonesian Hospital, which has also been subjected to military raids. The Health Ministry described the conditions there as “extremely difficult” for the transferred patients.
According to the Israeli military, around 350 patients and medical staff were evacuated from Kamal Adwan in recent weeks, with an additional 95 patients and caregivers moved to the Indonesian Hospital during the recent operations. Additionally, the military claimed to have supplied both hospitals with fuel and medical resources.
The conflict has resulted in the deaths of over 45,400 Palestinians, with the majority being women and children, and causing injuries to more than 108,000 others, as reported by the Health Ministry, which does not differentiate between civilian and combatant casualties.
Since the onset of the offensive, areas in northern Gaza such as Jabaliya, Beit Hanoun, and Beit Lahiya have been effectively sealed off, with large sections destroyed. Although tens of thousands have fled, many Palestinians remain in the vicinity of Kamal Adwan and two other hospitals.
Israel has pledged to dismantle Hamas following the group’s assault on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in approximately 1,200 fatalities and the abduction of around 250 individuals. It is estimated that roughly 100 Israelis are still held captive in Gaza, with around a third thought to be deceased.
Israeli strikes continued across Gaza, resulting in further casualties. An air raid overnight in Maghazi killed at least nine people, including women and children, as reported by personnel at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital and witnessed by a reporter who saw the bodies.
The Health Ministry noted that 48 individuals lost their lives in the preceding 24 hours due to Israeli actions. Concurrently, Israeli forces announced operations in the northern city of Beit Hanoun, citing intelligence regarding the presence of militants and Hamas facilities.
In addition, air raid sirens were triggered early Saturday in Israel as the military reported intercepting a missile launched by Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen. Israeli airstrikes targeted significant infrastructure in Yemen again on Thursday, as the Houthis indicated they would not relent until a ceasefire in Gaza is achieved.
