WHO appalled by the destruction of a hospital in the Gaza Strip
Published: Monday, Dec 18th 2023, 09:41
Updated At: Monday, Dec 18th 2023, 09:42
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The World Health Organization (WHO) has accused Israel of destroying a hospital in the north of the Gaza Strip. "WHO is appalled by the effective destruction of the Kamal Adwan hospital in northern Gaza in recent days, which rendered it inoperable and led to the deaths of at least eight patients," wrote WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Sunday evening on the X platform, formerly Twitter. The patients, including a nine-year-old child, died due to inadequate medical care. Israel rejected the criticism.
The Permanent Mission of Israel to the United Nations in Geneva accused Tedros on X of not mentioning that the Islamist Hamas had taken up residence in the Kamal Adwan Hospital. Before the Israeli army entered the premises, a dialog was held in coordination with the medical teams. The army had allowed a humanitarian time window and most of the hospital had been evacuated.
According to the military, several dozen civilians had refused to leave the area despite previous requests and warnings. In the area, 90 terrorists were arrested. "Israel also destroyed the terrorists' infrastructure and found numerous weapons and intelligence documents hidden in the incubators in the infant ward, among other places," according to the Permanent Mission of Israel to the UN.
Tedros wrote on X that many healthcare workers had reportedly been arrested. Many patients had to self-evacuate at great risk to their health and safety as ambulances were unable to reach the facility. "Gaza's healthcare system was already on the ground, and the loss of another even minimally functioning hospital is a severe blow," Tedros wrote. "The attacks on hospitals, medical staff and patients must stop. Ceasefire NOW."
The news channel Al-Jazeera had previously reported that Israel's army had used a bulldozer to destroy the tents of displaced people in the courtyard of the Kamal Adwan Hospital, killing 20 people in the process. Israel's army denied the allegations on Monday. Bodies had already been buried in the area. Contrary to claims, the army "did not bury civilians alive in the area of the hospital and is doing everything in its power to prevent civilians from being harmed." Hamas operates one of its headquarters in the area of the hospital.
According to the WHO, only eleven of 36 hospitals in the Gaza Strip are currently partially operational.
©Keystone/SDA
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