An Israeli raid on Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza has left the health care system in a state of crisis. The raid, which ended on Saturday, resulted in the detention of 44 male health care workers, leaving only female staff, the hospital director, and one male doctor to care for nearly 200 patients in desperate need of medical attention.
Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, the hospital director, tragically lost his son to Israeli shelling at the medical center's entrance. The situation in northern Gaza has been described as catastrophic by Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the director-general of the World Health Organization.
Reports indicate that hospital facilities and medical supplies were damaged or destroyed during the raid. The Israeli military entered the hospital compound twice within 24 hours, opening fire at parts of the complex. Around 600 people, including patients, hospital staff, and others seeking refuge, were inside the hospital during the raid. At least four staff members were injured.
Tedros emphasized that the health system in Gaza has been under attack for over a year and stressed the importance of shielding hospitals from conflict. He condemned the attack on health care facilities as a violation of international humanitarian law and called for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire to safeguard Gaza's collapsing health care system.
'WHO cannot stress loudly enough that hospitals must be shielded from conflict at all times,' Tedros stated. 'Lives depend on it!'
