Intense gunfire launched by Israeli forces in a "targeted" attack sparked a fire that shut down the last operational intensive care unit in North Gaza Tuesday night into Wednesday.
"They clearly targeted the ICU. We barely managed to evacuate the patients from there as fire spread," Dr. Hussam Abu Safiyeh, the director of Kamal Adwan Hospital, said in a video shared to X by Al Jazeera English.
Abu Safiyeh said he and others smothered the fire using blankets and water meant for patients since they do not have firp; extinguishers.
"We've been struggling for the past eight days with no water in the facility after our water tanks, water systems and oxygen supplies were all targeted and destroyed. The situation is catastrophic and our ICU can no longer provide any services," he continued.
The intensive care unit at Kamal Adwan Hospital caught fire after an Israeli attack, leaving the only ICU in north Gaza out of service. pic.twitter.com/jk3ueEFl1I
— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) December 18, 2024
Up to 75,000 Palestinians are seeking refuge in North Gaza, and at least 2,500 of them have been killed in the past two months, per Middle East Eye.
Abu Safiya told The National they were treating Palestinians injured after Israel Defense Forces (IDF) struck a home near the hospital, killing up to 10, when the IDF then closed in on them.
"We've been sending our pleas to the world for the past 75 days, that healthcare systems and staff should be protected. But unfortunately, we are being targeted indiscriminately like all homes in North Gaza," the hospital director added.
Dr Hussam Abu Safiya, director of Kamal Adwan Hospital, has once again spoken out about the deliberate targeting of the facility by the Israeli military. pic.twitter.com/JUtH9gvp6y
— Prithwiraj Bhattacharya (@Prithwirajb007) December 18, 2024
Last month, the ICU's Director Dr. Ahmed al-Kahlout was killed by an Israeli drone.
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