Geneva, Dec 29,(V7N) – The World Health Organization (WHO) has expressed alarm after the Kamal Adwan Hospital, the last major health facility in northern Gaza, was rendered non-functional following an Israeli military raid. Describing the attack as appalling, the WHO warned of severe risks to the 75,000 Palestinians still residing in the area.

Friday's raid led to the evacuation of 15 critical patients, along with caregivers and medical staff, to the Indonesian Hospital, itself described as "destroyed and non-functional" by the WHO. Initial reports indicate significant damage to Kamal Adwan’s infrastructure, including its surgical units, medical stores, and laboratories.

The Israeli military claimed the operation targeted a Hamas command center within the hospital and announced the detention of the facility’s director, alleging his involvement with the militant group.

Humanitarian Crisis Worsens

The WHO emphasized the dire state of healthcare in northern Gaza, with Kamal Adwan and Indonesian hospitals completely incapacitated and Al-Awda Hospital struggling under severe damage from recent airstrikes. Health workers and patients face escalating risks amid ongoing military operations.

The UN agency noted at least 50 verified attacks on or near the hospital since October, severely restricting medical missions. WHO efforts to sustain healthcare services in the area have been systematically undermined, leaving hospitals on the brink of collapse.

Urgent Intervention Needed

The WHO plans to dispatch a mission to the Indonesian Hospital to assess the situation and coordinate the transfer of critical patients to Gaza City for further care. The organization reiterated its call for the protection of health facilities and workers, urging an immediate halt to attacks on medical infrastructure.

"The systematic dismantling of Gaza’s healthcare system poses an existential threat to civilians. Hospitals must never be battlegrounds," the WHO asserted in its statement.

As the situation in northern Gaza reaches a critical juncture, global calls for de-escalation and humanitarian access grow louder. However, the immediate future of healthcare in the region remains uncertain amidst ongoing conflict.

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