Israel raids hospital in northern Gaza, patients forcibly evacuated

The Israeli army has raided the Kamal Adwan hospital in northern Gaza, hospital staff told the BBC and Reuters. Dozens of patients are being forcibly evacuated from the building.

Staff also say the army has set fire to several parts of the hospital.

The Israeli army has confirmed the raid. According to the army, Hamas members used the hospital as a base during the war. Israel says it has “facilitated the safe evacuation of civilians, patients and medical staff prior to surgery”.

Evacuation order ‘almost impossible’

The complex has been shelled before and at least five hospital staff members were killed by Israeli attacks last night, the hospital director said.

On Monday, the director was told to close the building and evacuate the patients. He said at the time that it was “almost impossible” to carry out the evacuation order.

“It is dangerous because there are patients in the ICU who are in a coma and need ventilation. Moving them puts them in danger,” the director said.

Kamal Adwan Hospital was one of the last places in northern Gaza where wounded people could be admitted. Hundreds of displaced people were also temporarily living in the building.

The humanitarian situation in northern Gaza is dire. International aid organizations withdrew weeks ago and Israel refuses to allow most aid supplies to enter.