The destruction of Kamal Adwan Hospital, northern Gaza’s last major health facility, marks a devastating chapter in Gaza’s ongoing humanitarian crisis. The siege and subsequent attack on the hospital left patients, medical staff, and displaced civilians in peril, highlighting the dire consequences of Israel’s relentless offensive. The phrase “Gaza’s isolation” underscores the growing abandonment felt by its residents in this unyielding conflict.
Forced Evacuations Amid Chaos
Early on December 25, the rumble of tanks surrounded Kamal Adwan Hospital, followed by loudspeakers ordering evacuation. Patients, doctors, nurses, and displaced families seeking refuge were forced to leave. Dr. Hussam Abu Safia, the hospital’s director, was detained by Israeli forces, sparking international outrage and calls for his release.
Men were stripped down to their underwear and marched to checkpoints for questioning. Many were beaten, including injured individuals. Women, too, were forced to endure searches under inhumane conditions, with soldiers dragging them by their hair and demanding they remove their headscarves.
Read: Kamal Adwan Hospital Director Urges Action Amid Escalating Crisis
A Refuge No More
Kamal Adwan Hospital was not only a medical facility but also a refuge for hundreds whose homes had been destroyed. Despite its status as the last operational major health center in northern Gaza, it was relentlessly targeted. Airstrikes destroyed water tanks, generators, and the hospital courtyard, making it nearly impossible to care for patients.
Witnesses reported that quadcopters fired on anyone attempting to move within the hospital premises. The staff struggled to provide care under constant bombardment. One night before the raid, an attack on a nearby building reportedly killed 50 people, including nurses. Their bodies remain unrecovered due to the severity of the shelling.
Harrowing Journeys to Safety
After enduring hours of mistreatment at checkpoints, evacuees were forced to walk west toward Gaza City, navigating through rubble in freezing conditions. Some found help from locals who offered blankets and support. However, many remained deeply scarred by the violence and humiliation they endured.
Fadi al-Atawneh, injured and left behind in the hospital, expressed his heartbreak over the world’s inaction. “I hoped for evacuation or protection from the World Health Organization, but it never came,” he said.
A Silent World
The attack on Kamal Adwan Hospital is part of a broader pattern of destruction that has left Gaza increasingly isolated. Over 60 days of continuous shelling have killed more than 45,000 people, with healthcare facilities targeted systematically. Dr. Abu Safia’s pleas for international intervention went unanswered until the hospital was emptied and destroyed.
Palestinians like nurse Shorouq al-Rantisi feel abandoned by the global community. “We were betrayed,” she said. “How does the world allow this to happen?”
The Aftermath
The destruction of Kamal Adwan Hospital symbolizes the abandonment faced by Gaza’s residents. It reflects not just physical devastation but also the erasure of hope and dignity. This tragedy calls for urgent international action to address the escalating crisis and protect innocent lives from further suffering.
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