Israeli military forces performed a significant raid at Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza, detaining its director and numerous others.
During a major operation, Israeli authorities apprehended Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, director of Kamal Adwan Hospital, along with over 240 individuals, accusing them of affiliations with Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorists, the New York Post reported.
Israel described the hospital as a critical stronghold for militants and alleged that militants were using it as a terrorist shelter. This compromised the hospital's operation and affected the healthcare services in the war-ravaged area.
Before the raid, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) evacuated around 350 patients, caregivers, and staff from the premises. This was to secure the location for the operation, which ended with a confrontation involving a rocket fired from within the hospital’s grounds, resulting in the death of 19 supposed terrorists.
Following the operation, disputes have arisen regarding the number of casualties, with the Hamas-run health ministry reporting approximately 50 deaths, including medical staff. The operation’s scale and the figures released have sparked international concern.
Nurse Rawiya Al Batsh highlighted the threatening situation faced by Dr. Safiya during the raid. She expressed her uncertainty about his fate after the arrest.
Dr. Abu Safiya has dedicated his life to protecting the health and lives of children in Gaza, providing care under conditions no medical professional should have to endure. His arrest is not only unjust — it is a violation of international humanitarian law, which upholds the protection of medical personnel in conflict zones.
The arrests and the method of operation used by the IDF, which allegedly included forcing evacuees to strip for security checks, have faced severe criticism from various human rights groups. Consequently, these actions have led to disputes over respect for international laws during the conflict.
MedGlobal described Dr. Safiya's dedication to healthcare under challenging conditions, criticizing both the legality and morality of his arrest.
Meanwhile, Hamas has called for a United Nations investigation to address the legitimacy of the claims made by Israel regarding the hospital's use for military purposes.
In response, the IDF defended its actions by stating that the detention and search procedures followed international law norms and were necessary for ongoing security concerns.
With Kamal Adwan Hospital’s shutdown, patients were forcibly relocated to facilities that were ill-equipped to manage the sudden influx, exacerbating the humanitarian situation in the region.
The broader implications of this raid extend to increased difficulties in providing necessary medical care in a region already crippled by conflict and infrastructure challenges.
As the global community watches, the arrest of Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya and the siege of Kamal Adwan Hospital highlight ongoing tense relations and the complex interplay of healthcare and military operations in conflict zones. The handling of such incidents continues to provoke debate over the balance between security and human rights in warfare.
