Palestinian authorities have accused Israeli troops of setting fire to Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza after forcibly removing staff and patients on Friday, December 27.
According to the Gaza Health Ministry, Israeli forces stormed the hospital, ignited fires, and forced many medical staff and patients outside, where they were made to strip in the cold weather.
The hospital, which has been targeted multiple times over the past three months during Israel’s offensive against Hamas fighters in the surrounding area, was reportedly struck again the day before, killing five medical staff members.
Israel’s military has stated that it is targeting Hamas infrastructure and militants in the region, but has not provided evidence of Hamas fighters operating within the hospital, despite denials from hospital officials.
The Gaza Health Ministry claims that Israeli troops forced medical staff and patients to gather in the yard and strip, with some individuals taken to an unknown location, while others were sent to the nearby Indonesian Hospital, which was rendered inoperable after an Israeli raid earlier this week.
Israeli forces often conduct mass detentions during raids, requiring men to strip for questioning as part of security measures. The Health Ministry also reported that fires were set in several parts of Kamal Adwan, including the laboratory and surgery department. At the time, 25 patients and 60 health workers remained in the hospital, down from 75 patients and 180 staff.
An audio message from a staff member, shared by hospital director Hossam Abu Safiya, described the scene: “Fire is ablaze everywhere in the hospital,” and mentioned that some evacuated patients had been disconnected from oxygen, with some in critical condition.
Physicians for Human Rights-Israel has petitioned the Israeli High Court to stop the military’s attacks on Kamal Adwan, warning that evacuating the hospital would endanger thousands of residents in northern Gaza. Since October, the group has documented the deaths of six staff members from Israeli fire.
Israel’s military campaign in Gaza began after Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people and the abduction of about 250 others. Around 100 Israelis remain captive in Gaza, with many believed to be dead.
