Doctor Issues Plea As Gaza Hospital Struggles after Deadly Israeli Attack

Within 30 minutes, the confirmed death toll from an Israeli strike on a residential building in Beit Lahiya surged to 62, according to al-Awda Hospital, a small facility still functioning in northern Gaza.

The death toll is expected to rise further, as witnesses estimate that about 100 people were inside the building at the time of the attack.

Hussam Abu Safiya, director-general of Kamal Adwan Hospital, said dozens of wounded individuals have flooded the facility, and he urged surgeons to return immediately to assist with life-saving operations.

“Many of the wounded may not survive due to the severe lack of resources,” Abu Safiya told Al Jazeera. He called on the global community to not ignore the situation, describing it as part of the “genocide” unfolding in Gaza.

Kamal Adwan Hospital, the primary healthcare center in northern Gaza, has been operating under dire conditions after Israeli forces detained dozens of medical staff in recent days, leaving just three doctors to manage the influx of injured patients.

Eyewitnesses described horrific scenes from the flattened residential block, which was targeted by multiple airstrikes early in the morning. Among those trapped in the rubble are children and local residents, including the building owner, relatives, and in-laws who were recently displaced from the nearby Jabalia refugee camp.

A witness recounted that some of those killed had only arrived at the building the previous evening, seeking refuge after Israeli forces stormed their neighborhoods.

Residents and volunteers at the site reported that it is unlikely the approximately 60 people still trapped under the rubble will survive. They highlighted the lack of proper equipment to remove the massive concrete debris from the collapsed five-story structure.

“These people are buried under the building, and with no heavy machinery available, it’s almost impossible to rescue them,” a volunteer said, describing the extensive destruction caused by the airstrikes.

In Gaza, at least 43,020 people have been killed and 101,110 wounded in Israeli attacks since October 7, 2023.