Attacks on hospitals in northern Gaza

Statement by Muhannad Hadi, Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory

Over the past two weeks, we have repeatedly warned that the tightening siege on Jabalya and northern Gaza is life-threatening.

On 18 October, Al Awda and Indonesian hospitals, two out of three hospitals remaining in North Gaza governorate, were directly hit amid intensified hostilities. These attacks are deepening an already alarming humanitarian crisis in northern Gaza.

In the past two weeks, Israeli forces increased their pressure on these hospitals to be evacuated, but patients had nowhere to go. Patients, medical staff and displaced persons were injured.

At the Indonesian hospital, two patients died due to a resulting power outage and lack of supplies; some medical staff had to flee for their lives. The facility is no longer operational.

Gaza needs more functioning health facilities, not less.

Kamal Adwan hospital is treating two-thirds of North Gaza Governorate’s over 370 hospitalized patients, who are mostly trauma cases. The hospital is running critically low on beds, medicine, medical supplies and fuel.

Since yesterday, an urgent request from the United Nations to access North Gaza to assist in rescuing dozens of injured people trapped in rubble remains unfulfilled by Israeli forces. Every minute counts and these delays are life-threatening.

Hospitals, patients, medical staff and other civilians must always be protected.

They are never a target.

Humanitarian and rescue teams must be allowed access without delay to save lives.

International humanitarian law is an obligation that must always be upheld.