Israeli forces withdrew from Kamal Adwan Hospital in Beit Lahia after a dayslong siege, leaving behind a trail of destruction and chaos. Overnight strikes in the city resulted in the deaths of at least 30 people, local authorities reported. The IDF continued its deadly offensive in the north, prompting criticism from the United Nations’ human rights chief, Volker Turk. Troops stormed the hospital last week as part of the offensive, which was described as one of the darkest moments of the conflict.
Despite the IDF’s withdrawal from the hospital, the assault on Beit Lahia continued, with airstrikes targeting residential buildings and killing dozens of people. Dr. Munir Abdullah Al-Bursh, Director-General of Gaza’s Ministry of Health, accused the Israel Defense Forces of shooting at rescue crews as they tried to approach the affected areas. Local authorities reported that hundreds of patients, medical staff, and displaced Palestinians who had taken shelter at the hospital were detained by Israeli forces. The situation was described as catastrophic, with only a few doctors left to care for nearly 200 patients.
The IDF defended its actions, stating that it was operating in the area based on intelligence regarding the presence of terrorist infrastructure and that it facilitated the evacuation of patients. It did not comment on the detention of health workers and described the overnight bombings in Beit Lahia as a precise strike targeting Hamas infrastructure and militants. The local Health Ministry reported an increasing death toll from Israeli strikes on residential buildings in the area, with fears of a targeted starvation campaign mounting as hospitals and refugee camps were surrounded.
The situation in northern Gaza has led to widespread concern, with the acting U.N. Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs warning that the entire population is at risk of dying. More than 42,000 people have been killed and nearly 100,000 injured since the start of Israel’s offensive sparked by Hamas militants’ attacks in southern Israel. The situation has drawn international attention, with Jordan confronting U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken over Israel’s actions, accusing the country of ethnically cleansing Palestinians from Gaza.
Efforts to negotiate a short-term cease-fire deal in Gaza involved meetings between the directors of the CIA and Israel’s Mossad with Qatar’s new prime minister in Doha. The proposed agreement would involve the release of some hostages in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners. The ongoing conflict in Gaza has caused immense suffering for the civilian population, with hospitals struggling to operate and residents facing the threat of airstrikes and bombings. The international community continues to call for an end to the violence and a lasting solution that will bring peace to the region.
