A Devastating Blow to Gaza’s Medical Services
On December 27, 2024, Kamal Adwan Hospital, the last major medical facility in North Gaza, was forced out of service following a brutal raid that caused significant damage to the building’s infrastructure. This marks a dire situation for the remaining population in the area—approximately 75,000 Palestinians—who are now left without access to vital healthcare services.
The raid, which took place in the heart of an already devastated region, has raised alarm bells across the global medical community. The hospital’s laboratory, surgical unit, engineering department, operations theater, and medical storage areas were severely damaged, including reports of fires breaking out in some sections. This attack is part of a broader pattern of escalating violence against health facilities that have plagued Gaza since October 2024.
Repeated Attacks and Escalating Tensions
The attack on Kamal Adwan Hospital is not an isolated incident. Since the beginning of October, WHO has verified over 50 attacks on health facilities or near Kamal Adwan, with airstrikes and bombardments making the region increasingly perilous for both patients and healthcare workers.
This week alone, at least 50 people lost their lives near the hospital, including five health workers who were part of the Kamal Adwan team. These daily attacks have forced healthcare professionals and patients into increasingly unsafe and unstable conditions, often leaving them without the supplies and support needed to provide even the most basic care.
According to WHO reports, some patients and staff were forced to evacuate to the nearby Indonesian Hospital, which lacks the necessary medical infrastructure to offer critical treatment. The move to Indonesian Hospital has left over 15 patients and 50 caregivers in a precarious situation, as they were transferred to a facility that is not only ill-equipped but also struggling to maintain essential services.
Key Details of the Raid and Aftermath:
- Hospital infrastructure: Severely damaged, including laboratories and surgical units.
- Evacuations: 12 patients and a female healthcare worker were relocated to Indonesian Hospital.
- Casualties: 50 people, including 5 health workers, died near the facility in recent attacks.
- Staff concerns: WHO has lost contact with the hospital director, who was reportedly detained during the raid.
A Systematic Assault on Healthcare
This is the latest chapter in a long series of attacks on Gaza’s already crumbling healthcare system. Hospitals have become the latest battlegrounds, with airstrikes and bombardments routinely targeting essential medical infrastructure. WHO and other humanitarian groups have called for an end to these attacks, urging all parties to adhere to international humanitarian law, which demands the protection of hospitals and healthcare workers.
Despite repeated calls for protection and support, WHO’s mission to provide essential aid has faced significant obstacles. Since October, only 10 out of 21 WHO missions to Kamal Adwan have been allowed to partially deliver supplies, including 45,000 liters of fuel, medical supplies, and food. The delivery of life-saving resources has been hindered by restrictions, and emergency medical teams have been denied access.
The healthcare situation in Gaza is at breaking point. With Kamal Adwan and Indonesian hospitals now out of commission and Al-Awda Hospital barely functioning due to airstrikes, the region faces an unprecedented shortage of medical care.
The Impact of the Ongoing Siege:
- Fuel and supplies: WHO managed to deliver essential supplies but has been blocked from providing full assistance.
- Patient transfers: Over 114 patients, along with their companions, have been transferred to other hospitals, but conditions remain dire.
Urgent Call for Action
WHO is intensifying efforts to assist the situation, planning an urgent mission to Indonesian Hospital to assess the conditions on the ground. The team will bring essential medical supplies, water, and food, as well as attempt to move critical patients to Gaza City, where hospitals still have some capacity.
But with many healthcare facilities in Gaza already destroyed or near collapse, it is becoming increasingly clear that the international community must take immediate action to prevent further deterioration. Hospitals must be restored to functionality, and the protection of healthcare workers must be prioritized. Without a ceasefire and a commitment to upholding international law, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza will only worsen.
The Legal and Ethical Crisis
WHO has repeatedly emphasized the need for international law to be respected, particularly the Geneva Conventions, which prohibit the targeting of health facilities and personnel. However, as attacks on hospitals continue, these laws are being flagrantly ignored.
International humanitarian law stipulates that hospitals and medical workers should be treated as neutral and protected under any circumstances. Yet, with the destruction of healthcare facilities like Kamal Adwan, this fundamental principle is being undermined.
