CAIRO/JERUSALEM – Israeli forces detained over 240 Palestinians, including medical staff and the director of the Kamal Adwan Hospital, during a raid on the north Gaza facility on Friday. Israel’s military claims the hospital was being used as a Hamas command center, an allegation denied by Hamas and the Gaza Health Ministry.
The raid rendered the hospital—the last major medical facility in northern Gaza—inoperable, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), which called the attack part of a “systematic dismantling” of Gaza’s health system.
Concerns Over Detained Medics
The Gaza Health Ministry expressed concern for the safety of Kamal Adwan Hospital Director Hussam Abu Safiya, alleging he was beaten during his arrest. Freed medical staff corroborated these claims.
Israeli Justification
The Israeli military stated those detained were suspected militants linked to Hamas operations. It claimed the raid was conducted after evacuating 350 patients and staff from the facility.
Hamas has denied Israel’s claims, urging international intervention to protect Gaza’s remaining medical infrastructure and calling for UN observers at medical facilities.
Northern Gaza Devastation
Much of northern Gaza has been leveled by Israeli forces, who cite security concerns to justify their actions. The region’s depopulation has displaced most of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents, with accusations of ethnic cleansing from Palestinian groups—a charge Israel denies.
The ongoing conflict, sparked by a Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023 that killed 1,200 people and took 251 hostages, has resulted in over 45,400 Palestinian fatalities, according to Gaza health officials.