Hospitals in northern Gaza are again encircled and under bombardment as Israeli troops advance, impacting Kamal Adwan, Al-Awda, and the Indonesian hospitals. These facilities, essential to Gaza’s healthcare system, face severe challenges treating a growing influx of wounded civilians under intensified military pressure, with staff recounting dire conditions and a lack of supplies.
All three hospitals have been under siege by Israeli forces, which claim Hamas has regrouped in nearby areas. The Israeli military alleges these hospitals serve as bases for Hamas operations, which Israel argues voids their protection under international law. Since October 2023, Israel has conducted multiple raids on Gaza hospitals, claiming military necessity, though it has presented limited evidence of Hamas operations in some cases.
The humanitarian impact has been profound. According to hospital administrators and aid organizations, staff are overwhelmed, supplies are critically low, and doctors are forced to perform amputations due to the lack of surgical resources. Al-Awda Hospital, located near the Jabalia refugee camp, has been especially hard-hit. The hospital’s director, Dr. Mohammed Salha, reported that critical shortages of food and medical supplies have left staff and patients without adequate resources.
In recent strikes, Kamal Adwan Hospital was reportedly damaged by artillery, which hit its third floor, igniting fires and damaging medical equipment. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that essential supplies delivered just days before were destroyed in the attack.
Indonesian Hospital, Gaza's largest healthcare facility in the north, has also faced escalating difficulties. Reports from staff describe shelling damage and power outages leading to patient fatalities. Efforts to evacuate patients have been hindered, despite some recent Israeli-facilitated patient transfers from the facility.
The United Nations and other international organizations have raised concerns over the recurring targeting of healthcare facilities, viewing it as a breach of protections granted under international law. Human rights advocates warn that such actions threaten the stability of Gaza's healthcare system and escalate humanitarian risks for civilians caught in the conflict.
Despite calls for international intervention, the conflict shows no signs of de-escalation. For Gaza’s civilians, hospitals — traditionally places of healing — have become sites of mounting loss and trauma.
All three hospitals have been under siege by Israeli forces, which claim Hamas has regrouped in nearby areas. The Israeli military alleges these hospitals serve as bases for Hamas operations, which Israel argues voids their protection under international law. Since October 2023, Israel has conducted multiple raids on Gaza hospitals, claiming military necessity, though it has presented limited evidence of Hamas operations in some cases.
The humanitarian impact has been profound. According to hospital administrators and aid organizations, staff are overwhelmed, supplies are critically low, and doctors are forced to perform amputations due to the lack of surgical resources. Al-Awda Hospital, located near the Jabalia refugee camp, has been especially hard-hit. The hospital’s director, Dr. Mohammed Salha, reported that critical shortages of food and medical supplies have left staff and patients without adequate resources.
In recent strikes, Kamal Adwan Hospital was reportedly damaged by artillery, which hit its third floor, igniting fires and damaging medical equipment. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that essential supplies delivered just days before were destroyed in the attack.
Indonesian Hospital, Gaza's largest healthcare facility in the north, has also faced escalating difficulties. Reports from staff describe shelling damage and power outages leading to patient fatalities. Efforts to evacuate patients have been hindered, despite some recent Israeli-facilitated patient transfers from the facility.
The United Nations and other international organizations have raised concerns over the recurring targeting of healthcare facilities, viewing it as a breach of protections granted under international law. Human rights advocates warn that such actions threaten the stability of Gaza's healthcare system and escalate humanitarian risks for civilians caught in the conflict.
Despite calls for international intervention, the conflict shows no signs of de-escalation. For Gaza’s civilians, hospitals — traditionally places of healing — have become sites of mounting loss and trauma.
