In a shocking turn of events, the Israeli military forcibly evacuated the Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza on Friday, making it the last major operational hospital in the area. This disturbing incident follows a series of airstrikes that reportedly resulted in the deaths of around 50 people, including medical personnel.

The hospital's director, Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, was among those detained by Israeli forces. He was one of the first to highlight the tragic loss of lives due to the airstrikes surrounding the hospital. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) defended their actions by labeling the hospital as a “Hamas terrorist stronghold,” insisting that their operations were justified.

Witnesses described a harrowing scene as military forces entered the hospital and ordered the evacuation of patients, leaving staff with only 15 minutes to transfer critically ill individuals to the nearby Indonesian Hospital — a facility already described as damaged and ill-equipped to handle such emergencies. Dr. Eid Sabbah, head of nursing at Kamal Adwan, revealed that the evacuation order came at approximately 7:00 AM, causing panic among the hospital staff and patients.

The Indonesian Hospital, to which many patients were relocated, had also been evacuated earlier in the week and is now seen as more of a shelter than a functional medical facility. Dr. Abu-Al Rish, Gaza’s deputy minister of health, expressed grave concerns about the lack of essential services at Indonesian Hospital, stating, "It's not equipped for patients."

The World Health Organization (WHO) quickly condemned the military actions, reporting that the raid had rendered Kamal Adwan Hospital non-operational. Initial assessments revealed that several key departments within the hospital had sustained significant damage, with some areas entirely destroyed.

Nadav Shoshani, an international spokesman for the IDF, acknowledged a small fire occurring within an empty part of the hospital but asserted that there was no connection between IDF activities and the blaze. However, many remain skeptical about the IDF's claims, particularly given the tragic accounts from eyewitnesses.

Dr. Abu Safiya reported that the airstrikes had tragically taken the lives of five medical staff members, including a pediatrician and a lab technician. Disturbingly, two paramedics were targeted and killed while responding to an emergency just 500 meters from the hospital, their bodies left in the street amidst the chaos.

The Israeli military, while asserting a lack of knowledge about these specific airstrikes, is currently investigating reports regarding the deaths of medical personnel.

Northern Gaza has been subjected to an intensified Israeli blockade since the beginning of October, which the military alleges is aimed at preventing Hamas from regrouping in the region. The United Nations has labeled the conditions in the area as a “near-total siege,” with access to essential aid severely restricted.

As healthcare facilities like Kamal Adwan become increasingly vulnerable, hospital officials have made desperate appeals for protection, warning that they are regularly targeted by Israeli shelling. Aid organizations, including Oxfam, have reported repeated failures in delivering vital supplies, attributing these setbacks to deliberate delays and systematic obstructions by Israeli forces.

As the situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate, the plight of civilians grows ever more precarious. Reports indicate that upwards of 15,000 people remain trapped in a desperate humanitarian crisis as military actions escalate around them, raising the urgent question: how much longer can the residents of Gaza endure this turmoil?

Stay tuned for further updates on this evolving crisis.