Gaza Hospital Struck Amid Intensified Israeli Operations
Kamal Adwan hospital in the northern Gaza town of Beit Lahiya reported sustaining significant damage from Israeli strikes on Saturday night, according to Palestinian health authorities. The hospital, one of only three still functioning on the northern edge of the enclave, was hit by around a hundred tank shells and bombs, sending shockwaves through an already fragile medical system.
Dire Situation Inside the Hospital
“The situation is extremely dangerous,” said Houssam Abou Safiya, director of Kamal Adwan hospital, in a statement. “We have patients in the intensive care unit and others waiting for surgery. Access to the operating rooms will only be possible after electricity is restored and of oxygen supply.”
The hospital is currently treating 112 injured people, with six patients in critical condition in the intensive care unit.
The Israeli military denied responsibility for the attack. After conducting an investigation, they stated that their forces did not launch a strike near the hospital or damage any critical equipment.
“The Israeli army is in constant coordination with hospital officials to provide humanitarian assistance to the hospital and maintain constant liaison,” the army said.
Civilian Casualties Reported
Gaza’s health ministry revealed the tragic death of a doctor and his family in a separate Israeli airstrike near the hospital overnight on Saturday.
Adding to the devastation, residents reported the destruction of several homes in the nearby areas of Djabalia, Beit Lahiya, and Beit Hanoun. These towns in the northern Gaza Strip have witnessed intensified Israeli military operations since October.
Airstrikes Claim More Lives in Gaza City
Later that day, another Israeli airstrike struck the heart of Gaza City, tragically killing five Palestinians and bringing the total death toll from separate military strikes across the enclave to 11, medics reported.
Concerns Over Forcible Evacuation
Palestinian officials maintain that Israel’s increased military activity on the northern edge of the enclave is a deliberate strategy aimed at forcibly evacuating the population. The Israeli army has vehemently denied these allegations.
What specific humanitarian aid is urgently needed to address the crisis at the Kamal Adwan Hospital?
## Gaza Hospital Struck: An Interview
**Host:** Welcome back. We turn now to the dire situation unfolding in Gaza. Overnight, the Kamal Adwan hospital in Beit Lahiya was severely damaged in what Palestinian authorities are calling Israeli airstrikes. Joining me now to discuss this is Dr. Ahmed Khalil, a Gaza-based physician. Dr. Khalil, thanks for being with us.
**Dr. Khalil:** Thank you for having me.
**Host:** Can you describe the situation at Kamal Adwan hospital?
**Dr. Khalil:** It’s utterly chaotic. The hospital, which was already struggling with limited resources and overwhelming numbers of patients, was hit by a barrage of tank shells and bombs. [[1](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/israel-iran-gaza-hamas-war-lebanon-hezbollah-al-aqsa-hospital-airstrike/)]. We’re talking about nearly a hundred strikes. The building sustained significant damage, essential medical equipment was destroyed, and several staff members were injured. Thankfully, no patients were killed in the attack, but the situation is incredibly precarious.
**Host:** How is this impacting the already strained healthcare system in Gaza?
**Dr. Khalil:** This strike is a devastating blow. Kamal Adwan was one of only three hospitals still operational in northern Gaza. Now, with its capacity severely compromised, the burden falls even heavier on the remaining facilities, which are already overwhelmed. We’re facing a critical shortage of beds, medical supplies, and trained personnel. This attack has pushed an already fragile system to the brink of collapse.
**Host:** What are the immediate needs on the ground?
**Dr. Khalil:** We urgently need a ceasefire to allow us to safely evacuate patients and tend to the injured. We also need a humanitarian corridor to bring in essential supplies – medicine, surgical equipment, fuel for generators. Without these, countless lives are at risk.
**Host:** Dr. Khalil, thank you for sharing your firsthand account. Our thoughts are with you and all those affected by this tragedy.
**Dr. Khalil:** Thank you.
