Last Major Health Facility in North Gaza "Out of Service": WHO

Jerusalem – The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that the Kamal Adwan Hospital, the last major health facility in northern Gaza, is now "out of service" following an Israeli military operation targeting Hamas militants near the facility.

According to the WHO, key departments of the hospital were severely burned and destroyed during the raid. The hospital had been serving critical patients and providing essential medical care in the war-torn region.

Health Workers and Patients at Risk

The WHO revealed that 60 health workers and 25 critically ill patients, including those on ventilators, remain inside the hospital. Patients with moderate to severe conditions have been evacuated to the non-functional Indonesian Hospital, leaving their safety in jeopardy.

Israel’s military claimed that the hospital had been used as a “stronghold for terrorist organisations” and justified the operation as part of its efforts to prevent Hamas militants from regrouping in northern Gaza. The military stated that civilians, patients, and medical staff were evacuated before the operation.

Escalating Conflict

Since October 6, Israel has intensified its land and air offensive in northern Gaza, targeting what it describes as "terrorist infrastructure." The WHO, however, expressed deep concern about the increasing restrictions on humanitarian access and repeated attacks on health facilities.

“This raid is undoing all efforts to maintain minimal health services in Gaza. The systematic destruction of the health system is a death sentence for thousands of Palestinians in need of medical care,” the WHO said, reiterating its call for a ceasefire.

Hamas Denies Allegations

Hamas denied any military activity at the hospital, calling the raid a “heinous crime” aimed at forced displacement. The group urged the United Nations to investigate the incident and accused Israel of targeting civilians and medical staff.

The Kamal Adwan Hospital housed around 350 people before the raid, including 75 injured patients and 180 medical staff. Witnesses reported that hundreds of people have since sought refuge in nearby shelters and hospitals.

The conflict continues to strain Gaza’s fragile healthcare system, with the WHO describing conditions as “appalling” and warning of dire consequences for the population.