Gaza war: Israel says it targeted Hamas in a hospital, 240 people arrested including the director and medical staff

Un hôpital de Gaza visé par l’armée israélienne. ILLUSTRATION MAXPPP

L’armée israélienne a annoncé samedi 28 décembre l’arrestation de 240 personnes à la suite du raid de l’hôpital Kamal Adouane, dans le nord de la bande de Gaza, dont son directeur et des membres du personnel médical.

The Gaza Health Ministry expressed concern over the fate of hospital director Hussam Abu Safiya after staff members who were released Friday night said he had been beaten by soldiers.

Israeli forces stormed Kamal Adwan Hospital, one of three medical facilities in the northern tip of the Gaza Strip, on Friday and ordered dozens of patients to evacuate.

200% Deposit Bonus up to €3,000 180% First Deposit Bonus up to $20,000

Director questioned

The Israeli military says the hospital was being used as a command center by Hamas and that those arrested were suspected fighters. The director of the establishment was taken in for questioning on suspicion of belonging to the Islamist group, the army added.

Hamas denied the accusations on Friday and said no fighters were in the hospital. It did not comment on the arrests. The raid on Kamal Adouan hospital brought a major hospital in the northern Gaza Strip to a standstill, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on X.

“WHO is appalled by yesterday's raid. The systematic dismantling of the health system and the siege of more than 80 days in northern Gaza are endangering the lives of the 75,000 Palestinians who remain in the area,”, the organization added.

Some patients were transferred to the Indonesian hospital, which is also out of service, and doctors were not allowed to join them, the Gaza Health Ministry said. Other patients and staff were taken to other medical facilities. According to the Israeli military, 350 patients and medical staff were evacuated before the raid, and 95 others were transferred to the Indonesian hospital during the operation, in coordination with local health authorities.

The Kamal Adouan hospital, as well as the Indonesian and Al Aouda hospitals in the north of the enclave, have been attacked several times by Israeli forces in recent weeks, according to Palestinian medical personnel. The Israeli army announced Saturday that it had launched an operation overnight against targets in the Beit Hanoun area in the northern Gaza Strip, and issued new evacuation orders.

A large part of the area around the towns of Jabalia, Beit Hanoun and Beit Lahiya in the north of the territory has been emptied of its inhabitants and is being systematically razed. Palestinians say that Israel wants to use this territory to create a buffer zone after the end of the war, a claim the Jewish state denies.

The Gaza Strip Health Ministry also reported the deaths of 18 Palestinians in Israeli strikes on Saturday, including nine in the Maghazi camp in the center of the enclave. The Israeli army has not commented on the toll