Israel’s army has detained the director of one of the last functioning hospitals in northern Gaza, as the World Health Organization (WHO) reiterated its call for hospitals in the bombarded Palestinian enclave to be protected.
In a statement on Saturday, the WHO said Kamal Adwan Hospital was “now empty” after the Israeli military raided the facility and forced out dozens of medical staff and patients.
“Yesterday evening, the remaining 15 critical patients, 50 caregivers and 20 health workers were transferred to Indonesian Hospital, which lacks the necessary equipment and supplies to provide adequate care,” the United Nations health agency said.
“The movement and treatment of these critical patients under such conditions pose grave risks to their survival. WHO is deeply concerned for their wellbeing, as well as for the Kamal Adwan Hospital director who has been reportedly detained during the raid.”
WHO said it lost contact with the director, Hussam Abu Safia, since the raid began.
The Israeli military said it launched the raid on Kamal Adwan — which, as of Friday morning, housed about 350 patients and medical staff — because the hospital “serves as a Hamas terrorist stronghold”.
Israel did not provide any evidence to back up its claim, and Hamas, the Palestinian group that governs Gaza, said it “categorically” denied the allegation. This morning’s raid on Kamal Adwan Hospital has put this last major health facility in North Gaza out of service. Initial reports indicate that some key departments were severely burnt and destroyed during the raid. (Agencies) page 5
