Israel detains director of one of last functioning hospitals in northern Gaza, Palestinians say
Associated PressJan 01
Israel Detains Gaza Hospital Director in Controversial Raid
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Above: Wounded Palestinians receive medical attention at the Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City after patients were transported from the Kamal Adwan Hospital on Dec. 28, 2024. Image copyright: Omar Al-Qattaa/Contributor/AFP via Getty Images
The Facts
Israeli forces detained Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, director of Kamal Adwan Hospital, along with more than 240 others during a military raid on one of northern Gaza's last functioning hospitals on Friday.
The Israeli military claims the hospital was being used as a Hamas command center and that Dr. Safiya is a suspected Hamas operative. However, no evidence was provided to support these allegations.
According to Gaza's Health Ministry, Israeli forces forced staff and patients to strip outside in winter weather during the raid, and multiple fires broke out in the hospital complex.
The Spin
Pro-Israel narrative
The hospital was being used as a hideout by Hamas terrorists, necessitating military intervention to prevent its exploitation. However, the IDF securely evacuated civilians, patients, and medical personnel and provided medical supplies before initiating the attack on Kamal Adwan and arresting suspected militants. Israel must destroy the Hamas network if it has to get the hostages back.
Pro-Palestine narrative
The raid violates international humanitarian law protecting medical facilities and personnel and highlights a systematic dismantling of Gaza's healthcare system. The forced evacuation of patients and detention of medical staff has left 75K Palestinians in northern Gaza without access to essential healthcare. Israel must be stopped from turning hospitals into battlegrounds.
