Kamal Adwan Hospital Forced Out of Service Following Devastating Raid and Ongoing Attacks in Gaza.
Gaza:
The World Health Organization (WHO) has condemned a recent raid on Kamal Adwan Hospital in North Gaza, which has left the facility out of service, marking a devastating blow to an already fragile health system in the region. The raid, which occurred on Saturday, destroyed key areas of the hospital, including the laboratory, surgical unit, and medical stores, severely crippling its ability to provide care.
This latest attack follows months of escalating violence and repeated assaults on healthcare facilities in Gaza. Kamal Adwan, which was the last major hospital operating in North Gaza, had already been struggling with daily bombardments and ongoing shortages of supplies and staff. In the raid, the facility’s remaining critical infrastructure was damaged, and at least 15 critically ill patients, along with 50 caregivers and 20 health workers, were transferred to the nearby Indonesian Hospital. However, Indonesian Hospital lacks the necessary resources to properly care for these patients.
The WHO has expressed grave concern over the wellbeing of the patients, especially as Kamal Adwan’s director has been reportedly detained during the raid, and contact has been lost with him since the attack. Earlier in the day, 12 patients and a female health worker were forced to evacuate to the Indonesian Hospital, where conditions are similarly dire. A further tragedy unfolded with reports that some individuals were stripped and forced to walk toward southern Gaza.
The region has been under siege for over 80 days, and the ongoing conflict has left more than 75,000 Palestinians in North Gaza at serious risk. With Kamal Adwan and Indonesian Hospitals now out of service, and Al-Awda Hospital severely damaged by recent airstrikes, healthcare services in the area are on the brink of collapse.
WHO has raised urgent concerns about the safety of health workers and the continued violation of international humanitarian law, which mandates the protection of medical personnel and facilities. Despite repeated appeals for assistance and the delivery of essential medical supplies, WHO’s efforts to sustain hospital operations in the area have been thwarted by ongoing attacks and blocked access. To date, at least 50 attacks on health facilities or health workers in the vicinity of Kamal Adwan have been verified since October 2024.
As a result, WHO has planned an emergency mission to Indonesian Hospital to assess the situation, provide necessary medical supplies, and explore options for transferring critically ill patients to Gaza City. However, the dire conditions and ongoing violence in the region continue to jeopardize the lives of those seeking care.
WHO is calling for immediate action to restore functional healthcare services in North Gaza, urging international bodies to ensure hospitals are protected and adequately supported in line with international humanitarian law. The destruction of health infrastructure and the targeting of healthcare workers must cease, and hospitals must once again be safe havens for those in need of medical attention.
