Drone strike wounds six at northern Gaza hospital
Palestinian health officials said an Israeli drone hit Kamal Adwan Hospital, wounding people at and near the facility despite a ceasefire.
By Daniel Okafor · Business Editor
3 min read
An Israeli drone strike wounded six people at and near Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza on Friday, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health and medical sources cited by Al Jazeera and AFP. The reported attack matters because the Beit Lahiya hospital is one of Gaza’s battered medical facilities and was described by Wafa as being inside a Green Zone under Israeli control.
Medical sources said at least three people were injured in the hospital courtyard and three more were wounded nearby, according to Al Jazeera and AFP. Wafa, the Palestinian news agency, identified the wounded as three civilians in the courtyard and three maintenance workers in the area around the hospital.
The Palestinian Ministry of Health condemned the strike and said it formed part of what it described as Israel’s systematic attacks on health facilities, according to Al Jazeera and AFP. The ministry said such attacks put routine care and emergency treatment at risk for patients and medical staff.
Wafa reported that at least a dozen people were wounded in Israeli attacks across Gaza on Friday. The agency said several Palestinians were hurt when Israeli forces fired near the Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza, and that Israeli drones struck homes in Gaza City’s Tuffah neighbourhood.
The Palestinian Ministry of Health urged the United Nations and humanitarian groups to publicly denounce attacks on Gaza’s medical infrastructure, according to Al Jazeera and AFP. The ministry said pressure was needed to push Israel to halt attacks affecting hospitals and healthcare workers.
Doctor’s detention draws UN pressure
The strike came as Israel faced renewed calls to release Hussam Abu Safia, the director of Kamal Adwan Hospital, according to Al Jazeera and AFP. The Palestinian doctor has been held by Israel for more than 18 months without charge or trial, and his lawyers say his life is in imminent danger, the report said.
UN experts this week called on Israel to free Abu Safia and other healthcare workers they described as arbitrarily detained, according to Al Jazeera and AFP. Israel’s diplomatic mission in Geneva said Friday on X that Abu Safia’s detention was lawful and based on what it called concrete intelligence, and accused him of being a member of Hamas.
The Israeli mission also denied that Abu Safia had shown signs of a life-threatening condition while in detention, according to Al Jazeera and AFP. Israel rejected reports that his health was in grave danger.
Al Jazeera and AFP also cited an earlier case in which Israeli officials changed their account of the killing of 15 Palestinian medics after video evidence contradicted initial claims. The Israeli military later acknowledged professional failures and breaches of orders in that incident, according to the report.
Al Jazeera and AFP reported that Gaza’s healthcare system has largely broken down during Israel’s assault on the territory. The report said thousands of Palestinians need treatment abroad, while Israeli movement restrictions have prevented most from leaving Gaza.
Al Jazeera reported that Israel has killed at least 73,110 Palestinians since launching its assault on Gaza on October 7, 2023. It also reported that at least 1,084 Palestinians have been killed since the ceasefire began last October.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.