Overview of the Incident

In an alarming escalation of conflict in northern Gaza, Israeli forces recently raided the last functioning hospital in the region, Kamal Adwan Hospital, resulting in the arrest of its director and dozens of healthcare professionals. Eyewitnesses and local health officials reported devastating scenes, including forced strip searches of patients in the streets.

Condemnation by WHO

The World Health Organization (WHO) has condemned the raid, emphasizing that ongoing Israeli assaults had already compromised the hospital's operations. The security measures implemented by Israeli forces have reportedly left several patients, including those dependent on ventilators, trapped within the facility as it was rendered inoperable.

Details of Arrests and Assaults

The hospital's director, Dr. Abu Safiya, remains missing, and accounts from colleagues indicate he was assaulted before his detention. In a harrowing social media post, Dr. Safiya warned that Israeli troops were surrounding the hospital and demanded an evacuation.

Witness accounts describe chaotic scenes as staff and patients were ordered to gather outside the hospital, where they were then separated by gender and subjected to humiliating strip searches. Nurses reported that individuals who resisted were beaten, with one nurse, Shorouq Saleh Al-Rantisi, detailing a traumatic environment where even young men were arrested, including her husband.

Patients' Suffering

Patients were forced to remain in the freezing cold while detained, with accounts revealing that many suffered physical assaults during the ordeal. One patient, Abdulrahman Rayan, recounted, "They made us strip down to our underwear in the cold... a significant number were detained and injured patients were beaten."

Interrogations and Fire Incident

The situation worsened when Israeli forces reportedly took those detained to the nearby Indonesian Hospital—an area already described as nonfunctional by the WHO—where further interrogations occurred. The chaos was punctuated by reports of a fire breaking out within the hospital premises, as medical staff scrambled to contain the flames with water siphoned from a kidney dialysis machine, which was contaminated with chlorine. Tragically, one patient lost their life in the blaze.

IDF's Defense and Denials

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) defended their actions by stating they conducted targeted operations based on alleged intelligence about terrorist activity. However, they did not provide concrete evidence to support this assertion, and repeated inquiries about the forced strip searches went unanswered.

Despite these allegations, the IDF described the fire as a "small incident in an empty building" and denied that it had been caused by their actions. They claimed to be operating in the hospital's vicinity, but not inside.

Aftermath and Ongoing Humanitarian Issues

In the aftermath of the raid, patients from Kamal Adwan Hospital were transferred to Al Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, with many suffering serious injuries. A poignant video showed Khaled Hazzaa, a patient with special needs, who communicated his suffering through gestures of violence. After being separated from family members for over 80 days, his emotional reunion underscored the human toll of the ongoing conflict.

Amidst the turmoil, healthcare continues to be hindered by Israeli authorities, which recently denied a request for humanitarian access to Kamal Adwan Hospital. As the region grapples with escalating violence and humanitarian crises, the need for immediate medical intervention has never been more pressing.

Conclusion

The world watches with growing concern as conditions for civilians in Gaza deteriorate. Will humanitarian agencies finally receive the access they need, or will these shocking events continue to unfold unchallenged?