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In a chilling escalation of violence, Israeli forces have intensified their assault on Gaza's healthcare sector, culminating in the abduction of Dr.
Hossam Abu Safia, director of Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza, on December 27, 2024. The incident is part of a broader pattern of deliberate targeting of medical facilities, staff, and infrastructure, which has drawn widespread condemnation from international and human rights organizations.
The attack on Kamal Adwan Hospital began in early December, with Israeli forces repeatedly shelling the facility. On December 26, the hospital was rocked by a series of explosions as the occupation army detonated booby-trapped devices around the building, killing five staff members: pediatrician Ahmed Samour, laboratory specialist Israa Abu Zayda, paramedic Abdul Majeed Abu al-Aish, paramedic Maher al-Ajrami, and maintenance specialist Fares al-Houdali.
The next day, the hospital was stormed, its sections set ablaze, and its remaining staff, patients, and visitors forced to evacuate. Witnesses reported seeing Dr. Abu Safia walking among the rubble in his medical coat, responding to orders from an Israeli commander through a loudspeaker before being taken into custody alongside other colleagues.
A Systematic Attack on Gaza’s Healthcare
This attack is the latest in a sustained campaign against Gaza’s healthcare system since October 7, 2023. According to local reports, over 1,068 healthcare workers have been killed, and 310 detained, while 34 hospitals and 80 health centers have been rendered inoperable. Ambulances have not been spared, with 134 targeted by Israeli forces.
Women Journalists Without Chains (WJWC) condemned these actions, describing them as part of an illegal policy to dismantle Gaza’s healthcare infrastructure and impose conditions that deprive Palestinians of life-saving medical care. The organization stated that such systematic targeting amounts to a form of collective punishment, violating international humanitarian law.
The assault on Kamal Adwan Hospital reflects a broader strategy of targeting civilian infrastructure. WJWC noted that in December alone, the hospital suffered more than 30 attacks, including heavy bombardment and drone strikes.
The Human Cost: Dr. Abu Safia’s Story
The personal toll of these attacks is exemplified by the experiences of Dr. Hossam Abu Safia and his team, who worked under harrowing conditions to care for thousands of patients. Despite the ongoing violence, Dr. Abu Safia continued his duties even after losing his son, Ibrahim, in an Israeli airstrike on October 26, 2024. With no safe burial sites available, Abu Safia performed funeral prayers in the hospital yard before burying his son near the facility.
In November, the doctor sustained injuries from six pieces of shrapnel during a drone attack as he exited the operating room. Despite these physical and emotional hardships, he remained at the hospital, determined to serve his community.
Documented Abuses and Violations
Reports from the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor revealed harrowing testimonies of abuses during the Israeli storming of Kamal Adwan Hospital. Survivors described acts of sexual harassment, forced disrobing of women, and the killing of a child suffering from psychological disorders. Witnesses also reported beatings and degrading treatment of patients, staff, and visitors.
These events form part of a broader campaign of violence. On December 12, the only orthopedic doctor in northern Gaza was killed while traveling between Kamal Adwan and al-Awda Hospitals.
International organizations, including the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, have expressed grave concerns over these actions. The UN described the deliberate targeting of health facilities as a war crime, stating that such acts violate international laws, including the Geneva Conventions.
Calls for Accountability
WJWC has called for urgent international intervention to halt these violations and protect civilians, healthcare workers, and facilities. The organization emphasized that the impunity enjoyed by Israeli leaders has emboldened further violations, urging the International Criminal Court to investigate and hold those responsible accountable.
“These deliberate attacks on healthcare not only violate the Geneva Conventions but also threaten the very fabric of humanity,” the organization stated. “The international community must act decisively to prevent further atrocities and ensure justice for the victims.”
The Geneva Conventions and UN Resolution 2675 explicitly prohibit attacks on hospitals and medical personnel, underscoring the illegality of such actions. Articles 18 and 19 of the Fourth Geneva Convention mandate the protection of civilian hospitals, stating that their humanitarian role must not be disrupted under any circumstances.
The destruction of Gaza’s healthcare system is a stark reminder of the devastating human cost of ongoing conflict. As international bodies continue to document violations, organizations like WJWC stress the urgent need for accountability and protection for civilians caught in the crossfire. The failure to act decisively, they warn, will deepen the humanitarian crisis and erode global norms meant to safeguard human dignity in times of war.
