This horror must end: WHO denounces Israel’s attack on Gaza hospital

The World Health Organization has denounced Israel’s takeover of a crucial Gaza hospital in northern Gaza, stating that “this horror must end” and that attacks on medical institutions are a “death sentence” for thousands of Palestinians.

According to the WHO, the last significant medical facility in northern Gaza was rendered inoperable on Friday after an Israeli military attack on the Kamal Adwan Hospital.

“Initial reports indicate that some key departments were severely burned and destroyed during the raid,” WHO said in a statement on X on Friday evening.

In a statement, the Israeli military claimed to have raided the Kamal Adwan Hospital because it “serves as a Hamas terrorist stronghold,” but it did not offer any supporting documentation.

According to Hamas, the allegations were “categorically” denied.

About 350 individuals were sheltered at the hospital as of Friday morning, including 180 medical staff members and 75 patients.

According to WHO, 25 critically ill patients, including those on ventilators, and 60 medical staff are still in the hospital.

The United Nations health agency stated that it was “deeply concerned for their safety” and that the patients in moderate to serious condition had to be evacuated to the Indonesian hospital, which had been demolished and was no longer operational.

The WHO called for a ceasefire once more.

WHO stated: “This raid on Kamal Adwan Hospital comes after escalating restrictions on access for WHO and partners, and repeated attacks on or near the facility since early October.

“Such hostilities and the raids are undoing all our efforts and support to keep the facility minimal functional.

“The systematic dismantling of the health system in Gaza is a death sentence for tens of thousands of Palestinians in need of healthcare.

“This horror must end and healthcare must be protected,” the health body added.

In October, Israel launched a fresh ground invasion in northern Gaza, claiming—without providing any proof—that the hospital had turned into “a key stronghold for terrorist organizations and continues to be used as a hideout for terrorist operatives.”

The Israeli military claimed that its soldiers had “facilitated the secure evacuation of civilians, patients, and medical personnel” prior to starting the most recent attack on the hospital.

Hamas insisted that the UN form an inquiry commission “to examine the scale of crime being committed in northern Gaza” and denied that its militants were in the hospital.

“We categorically deny the presence of any military activity or resistance fighters in the hospital,” Hamas disclosed in a statement.

“The enemy’s lies about the hospital aim to justify the heinous crime committed by the occupation army today, involving the evacuation and burning of all hospital departments as part of a plan for extermination and forced displacement.”

The Israeli military has frequently accused Hamas fighters of operating from medical facilities, but it has never provided evidence to support these allegations, according to reports.

“Most notable was the raid on al-Shifa Hospital back in 2023 when the military said Hamas was using al-Shifa as a command and control centre, claims that to this day have still never been proven,” report says.

“Now, Kamal Adwan was the last functioning hospital in northern Gaza, but again, it was barely functioning because of the siege that was put forward by Israeli forces – a siege on food, water, and all other sorts of medical supplies.”

The hospital’s director was reportedly taken into custody by Israeli forces.

“The occupation forces have taken dozens of the medical staff from Kamal Adwan Hospital to a detention centre for interrogation, including the director, Hussam Abu Safia,” the Palestinian Health Ministry in the Hamas-run territory said in a statement.

Abu Safia was reportedly apprehended.

According to Abu Safia, who was previously mentioned by the ministry, the military had “set on fire all surgery departments of the hospital.”

Safia added that the medical staff had “a large number of injuries.”

Abu Safia further said on Thursday that an Israeli airstrike had killed five employees.

Since October of last year, Israel’s attack has reportedly killed around 45,300 Palestinians, primarily women and children.

A large portion of Gaza lies in ruins, and the great majority of the 2.3 million residents have been displaced.

Abu Safia has expressed worries about the state of the hospital on several occasions in recent days.

“The world must understand that our hospital is being targeted with the intent to kill and forcibly displace the people inside,” he said in a statement.

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