Loss of Contact with Gaza Hospital Amidst Israeli Invasion

The World Health Organization has lost communication with a key hospital in Gaza following an Israeli military raid, raising concerns about the ongoing humanitarian crisis.

The director-general of the World Health Organization (WHO) expressed alarm on Friday after communication was lost with the Kamal Adwan Hospital, one of the last operational medical facilities in northern Gaza, amidst escalating tensions in the region. Reports from the Gaza health ministry indicated that Israeli troops had stormed the hospital, leading to chaos as they allegedly detained hundreds of patients, medical staff, and internally displaced persons seeking refuge within the facility.

The Israeli military, for its part, has stated that their operations in the vicinity are part of an effort to target what they described as terrorist activity, although they did not confirm the specific events at the hospital. The situation at Kamal Adwan Hospital has reportedly deteriorated significantly, with alarming accounts of gunfire and conditions leading to the deaths of two children in intensive care due to power loss affecting the hospital’s generators.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO's director-general, conveyed the seriousness of the situation, marking it as "deeply disturbing" given the number of vulnerable individuals inside. Earlier, WHO had been coordinating aid efforts, successfully transferring 23 patients and 26 caregivers to another facility. The Israeli government agency in charge of Gaza policy, COGAT, stated that they had facilitated such evacuations while ensuring emergency services remained operational.

Historically, this hospital has faced repeated threats, having been previously besieged by Israeli forces last December and suffering from increased scrutiny in the current military offensive against Hamas. With the conflict intensifying, the international community continues to monitor the humanitarian impacts of the ongoing military operations in Gaza.