The Palestinian Ministry of Health described the attack as part of Israel's "systematic targeting" of health facilities.
Written by Daniel Khalili-Tari and AFP
According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, despite the "ceasefire" in force, staff at the Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza were injured in an Israeli drone attack on a hospital.
Friday's attack hit the Kamal Adwan Hospital in Beit Lahiya. Medical sources said at least three people were wounded in the courtyard and three more nearby.
The Palestinian news agency Wafa said three „civilians” were wounded in the courtyard and three „maintenance workers” nearby. The attack came despite the facility being located in the so-called „Green Zone,” an area under Israeli control.
The ministry condemned the attack, describing it as part of Israel’s „systematic targeting” of health facilities. It warned that such attacks jeopardize the ability of health workers and hospitals to provide routine and life-saving medical services.
Gaza's healthcare system has almost completely collapsed as a result of Israel's genocide. Thousands of Palestinians need medical treatment abroad, but Israeli restrictions on movement prevent the vast majority from leaving the zone, further exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.
At least a dozen people were injured in Israeli strikes in Gaza on Friday, Wafa reported. Several were wounded when Israeli forces opened fire on Palestinians near the Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza. Israeli drones targeted homes in the Tuffah neighborhood of Gaza City.
The Health Ministry has called on the UN and humanitarian organizations to publicly condemn Israeli attacks on Gaza's healthcare infrastructure in order to pressure Israel to stop.
Pressure on Israel to release Palestinian doctor
The attack on Kamal Adwan Hospital comes as international pressure mounts on Israel to release the hospital's director, Hussam Abu Saffia. The Palestinian doctor has been arbitrarily detained by Israel for more than 18 months without charge or trial. His lawyers say his life is in imminent danger.
Earlier this week, UN experts demanded that Israel release him and all other health workers arbitrarily detained.
Israel said on Friday that Abu Saffia's detention was "lawful" and rejected reports that he was in a life-threatening condition.
„Abu Saffia is being held lawfully by Israel, based on specific intelligence,” Israel’s diplomatic mission in Geneva said on X, accusing the doctor of being a member of Hamas. „At no point during his detention did he show signs of a life-threatening condition.”
Israel has been found to have repeatedly lied about having evidence to justify killing Palestinian civilians. Last April, Israeli officials revised their account of the killing of 15 Palestinian doctors after video footage contradicted their initial claims. The Israeli military subsequently admitted to „professional failures” and „violations of orders.”.
Israel has killed at least 73,110 Palestinians since it launched its offensive on Gaza on October 7, 2023. At least 1,084 Palestinians have been killed since the „ceasefire” that began last October.
