Israeli Forces Attack Hospitals, School in Gaza, Killing Eight

Israeli air raids have struck a school in Gaza City's Daraj neighborhood, killing eight Palestinians who were seeking shelter, Al Jazeera Arabic reported. The attacks come as Israeli forces intensify their assault on the besieged region.

In North Gaza, Israeli forces launched additional strikes on the Kamal Adwan Hospital, which had previously been ordered to evacuate. Medical staff remain trapped, unable to evacuate the 66 patients under treatment, as ongoing attacks target critical units, including the ICU and maternity ward. Medical workers and international organizations are calling for urgent intervention amid escalating violence.

“The situation is catastrophic,” said Dr. Hussam Abu Safia, the hospital’s director, in a video message. He described the unprecedented nature of the assault: “The Israeli military has targeted the Kamal Adwan Hospital with different types of weapons without prior warning. The ICU, maternity, and nursing departments are under direct attack. We had asked the world to intervene immediately to protect the healthcare system from this brutal attack. For more than an hour, the shelling has continued. We hold the world accountable.”

Nearby, Al Awda Hospital is also under attack, further compounding the crisis. Medical staff at both facilities are pleading for protection as communication between Kamal Adwan Hospital and Gaza’s Health Ministry has been cut, raising fears of escalation.

Footage verified by Al Jazeera shows wounded Palestinians taking refuge in hospital corridors amid the shelling. Medical workers warn that they are unable to access the facility in Beit Lahiya due to the ongoing bombardment.

World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expressed deep concern over the attacks, calling them "deeply worrisome" and highlighting the risk to patients’ lives. In a post on X, he said, “The hospital has been in the midst of fighting for too long, and the lives of patients are at risk.”

Israeli forces have reportedly surrounded the Kamal Adwan Hospital with tanks and drones, continuing to fire directly on the facility. Despite calls for evacuation, no measures have been implemented, leaving patients and staff in grave danger.

Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza has killed at least 45,227 Palestinians and wounded 107,573 since October 7, 2023.