Four medical workers were killed during an Israeli military operation on Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza in a sad turn of events amid the continuous conflict in Gaza. According to eyewitnesses, the attack struck without notice and caused anarchy and panic among patients and personnel. Already hampered by months of siege and limited resources, the hospital suffered terrible results from this most recent attack.
Details of the Incident
On the night of the strike, Israeli forces targeted the Kamal Adwan Hospital, located in Beit Lahiya, a densely populated region in northern Gaza. According to witnesses, the hospital was struck directly, causing major structural damage and four doctors on duty perished. As they tried to escape, many more patients and staff members suffered injury.
Noting that there was no official notice or time for evacuation, the World Health Organisation (WHO) denounced the attack. WHO spokesman Richard Peeperkorn claims that such strikes against international humanitarian law, which clearly safeguards medical facilities and staff during armed crises. “This is a grave violation that endangers hundreds of thousands of already at risk lives,” he said.
Humanitarian Crisis at Kamal Adwan Hospital
Kamal Adwan Hospital was being run under appalling conditions before the incident. As one of the last operating medical institutions in northern Gaza, it serviced thousands of displaced families and critical care patients. Essential resources including as fuel, medicine, and medical equipment were practically depleted due to extended blockades and frequent shelling.
The hospital’s director indicated that this latest assault virtually left the facility unworkable, forcing patients—including those in neonatal critical care units and emergency wards—to be evacuated. The Gaza Ministry of Health reported that numerous patients were left untreated, leading to several unnecessary deaths.
Broader Context and Implications
The raid on Kamal Adwan Hospital reflects a rising trend of attacks on medical infrastructure in Gaza. Since October, hospitals in Beit Hanoun and Jabalia have also been attacked, further straining an already crumbling healthcare system. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) estimates that over 12,000 people across Gaza require urgent medical evacuation, although less than 80 have been allowed to leave the region.
International human rights organizations have consistently decried the use of force against civilian infrastructure. Human Rights Watch called the incident as “another step in the systematic erosion of humanitarian principles in Gaza.” The incident has generated worldwide outrage from governments and NGOs, requesting immediate probes into alleged war crimes.
Eyewitness and Victim Accounts
Survivors reported the horrible experience of the attack. One nurse, speaking anonymously for safety reasons, stated, “We were tending to patients when the first explosion hit. The lights went out, and people started shouting. Some of us tried to take patients to safety, but the blows didn’t stop.” Another staff member claimed witnessing coworkers stuck under rubble, with no rescue teams ready to help due to ongoing shelling.
Families of the victims expressed deep grief and outrage. A relative of one of the murdered doctors commented, “They gave their lives to save others, and now their own lives were stolen in a place meant to be a sanctuary.”
International Reactions
The WHO, as other global organizations, has called for responsibility. In a press prepared, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Chief General of WHO, remarked, “This assault highlights the dire requirement for a truce to guarantee the security of clinical offices and helpful laborers in struggle zones.”
The European Association and Joined Countries have likewise produced comments empowering all gatherings to keep global compassionate legislation. The EU’s High Delegate for International Matters, Josep Borrell, censured the assault as “an unsatisfactory infringement of basic liberties.”
Calls for Justice and Rebuilding
As Gaza continues to face unremitting bombardment, the devastation of Kamal Adwan Hospital poses a serious obstacle to providing care for the injured and sick. The Gaza Ministry of Health has requested for international assistance to reconstruct the facility and enable medical evacuations for essential cases.
For the relatives of the victims, the loss is personal and emotional. A local neighbor, lamenting the death of his brother, a pediatrician at the hospital, stated, “He stayed to save lives, even when we begged him to leave. Now he’s gone, and we’re left to wonder who will save us.”
Conclusion
The attack on Kamal Adwan Hospital has exposed the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza and the urgent need for international assistance. As cries for accountability rise, the episode serves as a sobering reminder of the cost of war on innocent lives and the ideals of humanity.
Sources and References
- World Health Organization Statement
- Palestinian Information Center Report
- Wikipedia Entry on Kamal Adwan Hospital
- Al Jazeera Coverage