Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), warned last night that the situation in northern Gaza was "catastrophic," citing ongoing Israeli military efforts to evacuate and forcibly displace the local Palestinian population from the area.
The WHO reported that the Israeli siege at Kamal Adwan Hospital has ended, but it came at a heavy cost. "Following the detention of 44 male staff members, only female staff, the hospital director, and one male doctor are left to care for nearly 200 patients in desperate need of medical attention."
Ghebreyesus noted that the healthcare system in Gaza has faced assaults for over a year, calling the conditions of hospitals and medical supplies "tragic." He stated that the only way to ensure the safety of remaining healthcare facilities is through an immediate and unconditional ceasefire.
Earlier yesterday, local sources indicated that Israeli forces had withdrawn from Kamal Adwan Hospital, leaving behind casualties, destruction, and chaos following an incursion the previous day.
Northern Gaza has been experiencing an Israeli ethnic cleansing campaign for 23 consecutive days, with the Israeli military intensifying its pressure on the remaining Palestinian population to leave the area.