The Last Hospital in Northern Gaza Ceases Operations

Israeli forces arrested dozens of Palestinians, including the director and many medical staff members of Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza. Health officials affiliated with the extremist group Hamas reported that the Israeli army detained "more than 450 individuals" at this hospital, of which 33 were medical personnel. The Israeli army claims that this hospital was used as a command center for the extremist group Hamas, a claim that Hamas has denied. The hospital has been targeted by Israeli forces since Friday, January 7, and the World Health Organization announced that this attack has rendered the last major medical center in northern Gaza non-operational, putting the lives of 75,000 remaining Palestinians in the area at risk. The Israeli army stated that 350 patients and medical staff were evacuated from Kamal Adwan Hospital prior to the operation, and another 95 were transferred to an Indonesian hospital during the operation, with this transfer coordinated with local health officials. Islamic countries condemned the Israeli attack on the hospital in Gaza and its "burning". Meanwhile, the Gaza Ministry of Health reported that Israeli airstrikes across the Gaza Strip killed 18 Palestinians on Saturday, with at least 9 of them killed in a house in the Al-Maghazi camp in central Gaza. The Israeli army has not commented on these attacks and casualties. In recent months, Israeli forces have driven people from areas surrounding the cities of Jabalia, Beit Hanoun, and Beit Lahia in northern Gaza, destroying much of these areas. Palestinians have accused Israel of committing "ethnic cleansing" by evacuating these areas. Israel has denied this accusation, stating that its goal is to prevent the regrouping and reorganization of Hamas members in these areas. Meanwhile, the Israeli army announced that two rockets were fired from northern Gaza, one of which was aimed at Jerusalem, and both were intercepted. Reports indicate that Israel has killed more than 45,400 Palestinians in its campaign against Hamas, which previously controlled Gaza. According to health officials in the Gaza Strip, most of the 2.3 million population of this area has been displaced, and much of Gaza has been devastated. This war began following Hamas's attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which Israeli officials say killed 1,200 people and transferred 251 individuals as hostages to Gaza. Hamas is recognized as a terrorist organization by the United States and the European Union. A report from the Israeli government, which is set to be presented to the United Nations this week, indicates that hostages released from Gaza last year, including children, were subjected to physical and sexual abuse during their captivity. The Israeli Ministry of Health, in this report, based on the testimonies of released hostages, mentioned instances of torture such as burning, beating, deliberate starvation, and sexual abuse. The report states that some hostages, including children, were forced to undress under the threat of weapons. Women spoke of behaviors such as being tied to beds and the leering stares of captors, as well as the starvation of men and other severe tortures. This report is set to be submitted to the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture. The Israeli Health Minister described these testimonies as a "warning to the international community" to increase pressure on Hamas for the release of remaining hostages in Gaza. Reports indicate that of the 251 hostages taken in the Hamas attack on October 7 last year, 96 remain in Gaza. Efforts are underway to reach a new agreement for the release of remaining hostages and to establish a ceasefire.