The World Health Organization (WHO) has expressed deep dismay following the raid on Kamal Adwan Hospital, which has rendered the last major health facility in North Gaza non-operational. This attack underscores the systematic dismantling of the region’s health infrastructure, coupled with an over 80-day siege, leaving the lives of approximately 75,000 Palestinians in North Gaza in grave jeopardy.
Extensive Damage to Kamal Adwan Hospital
Preliminary reports indicate that the suffered severe damage during the raid. Key areas such as the laboratory, surgical unit, engineering and maintenance department, operations theatre, and medical store were reportedly burnt and extensively damaged. Earlier in the day, 12 patients and a female health staff member were reportedly forced to evacuate to the Indonesian Hospital, a facility already destroyed and non-functional. This hospital is incapable of providing any level of care, exacerbating the crisis.
The evacuation of Kamal Adwan Hospital’s majority staff, stable patients, and their companions to nearby locations has further compounded the healthcare crisis. In a particularly alarming incident, some individuals were reportedly stripped and forced to walk toward southern Gaza. The area surrounding the has remained highly volatile over the past two months, with almost daily attacks on and health workers. Recent bombardments near Kamal Adwan Hospital reportedly claimed 50 lives, including five health workers.
The Critical Aftermath
As of now, Kamal Adwan Hospital stands empty. Yesterday evening, 15 critically ill patients, 50 caregivers, and 20 health workers were transferred to the Indonesian Hospital. However, this facility lacks the necessary equipment and supplies to provide adequate care. The precarious movement and treatment of these critical patients pose significant risks to their survival. WHO has expressed deep concern for their wellbeing, as well as for the director, who was reportedly detained during the raid. Contact with the director has been lost since the raid began, raising further alarm.
An urgent WHO mission to the Indonesian Hospital is being organized to assess the situation, provide basic medical supplies, food, and water, and arrange the safe transfer of critical patients to Gaza City for continued care . This mission is critical, given the escalating restrictions on healthcare access and the severe damage to the region’s health facilities.
Mounting Restrictions and Repeated Attacks
Since October 2024, WHO has documented at least 50 attacks on health facilities near Kamal Adwan Hospital. Despite the escalating need for emergency and trauma services, only 10 out of 21 WHO missions to the hospital were partially facilitated between October and December. These missions delivered 45,000 liters of fuel, medical supplies, blood, and food, while transferring 114 patients and 123 companions to Al-Shifa Hospital. However, international emergency medical teams have been repeatedly denied entry, significantly hindering response efforts.
The recent raid on Kamal Adwan Hospital has undone months of work by WHO and its partners to sustain the facility’s operations. With Kamal Adwan and Indonesian entirely out of service and Al-Awda Hospital severely damaged and barely operational due to recent airstrikes, the healthcare lifeline in North Gaza is on the brink of collapse.
A Call for Urgent Action
WHO has reiterated the urgent need to ensure that in North Gaza are restored to functionality. The organization has emphasized that must not become battlegrounds. The current situation evokes memories of the earlier destruction of Gaza City’s health system, where and health workers faced relentless attacks.
Since October 2023, WHO has issued repeated calls for the protection of health workers and facilities in accordance with international humanitarian law. These calls stress that health facilities, workers, and patients are always off-limits in conflict zones. They must be actively protected and never attacked or used for military purposes. The principles of hospital precaution, distinction, and proportionality under International Humanitarian Law must be upheld at all times.
The Wider Implications
The destruction of Kamal Adwan Hospital not only represents a devastating blow to healthcare in North Gaza but also highlights the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the region. The dismantling of the health system has far-reaching consequences for the vulnerable population, particularly for critical patients who rely on these facilities for survival.
The Indonesian Hospital’s inability to meet the needs of transferred patients underscores the urgent requirement for international intervention. WHO’s planned mission to the facility aims to mitigate the immediate impacts of the crisis. However, sustained efforts and broader cooperation are essential to address the long-term challenges facing North Gaza’s healthcare system.
A Dire Humanitarian Crisis
The situation in North Gaza is a stark reminder of the devastating impact of conflict on civilian infrastructure. The systematic targeting of and health workers not only violates international humanitarian law but also exacerbates the suffering of already vulnerable populations. The international hospital community must act decisively to protect healthcare facilities and ensure access to medical services for those in need.
WHO’s ongoing efforts to provide support in Hospital’s North Gaza are commendable, but the scale of the crisis demands a coordinated global response. The restoration of hospital healthcare services, the protection of hospital health workers, and the upholding of humanitarian principles must remain priorities in addressing the crisis.
