Israeli forces destroyed Kamal Adwan Hospital, the last major health facility operational in northern Gaza, on Friday morning. The hospital had been under siege for weeks, with relentless bombardment and targeting of medical staff.
According to witnesses, patients were forced to evacuate the hospital, where many had sought refuge due to the destruction of their homes by Israeli forces. The hospital’s director, Dr Hussam Abu Safia, was taken by Israeli soldiers despite his pleas for help going unanswered.
Women and men were subjected to humiliation and abuse at checkpoints, with some being beaten and tortured. Many patients were left abandoned without medical care, as the hospital was stormed and emptied.
The destruction of Kamal Adwan Hospital is the latest in a series of Israeli attacks on Gaza’s healthcare system, which has killed over 45,000 people since the start of the conflict. Palestinians are “betrayed” and “abandoned” by the international community, according to survivors.
Israel has refused to release Dr Abu Safia, despite calls from the UN, humanitarian NGOs, and international health organizations. The Israeli government’s actions have left many feeling alone and without protection in the face of aggression.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2024/12/30/global-silence-and-abandonment-as-gazas-kamal-adwan-hospital-destroyed