Israel Forces Set Fire to Gaza Hospital, Staff and Patients Interrogated

gaza - Israeli soldiers set fire to Kemal Advan Hospital in northern Gaza under the pretext of Hamas members, leaving it unusable. Staff and patients were stripped half-naked and interrogated during the attack.

Israeli forces set fire to the only health facility in northern Gaza, Kemal Advan Hospital, under the accusation of Hamas affiliation, rendering it inoperable. During the attack, Israeli soldiers interrogated dozens of doctors, hospital staff, and caregivers. According to a statement by the World Health Organization (WHO), 'Kemal Advan is now vacant. The remaining 15 patients, 50 caregivers, and 20 healthcare workers have been transferred to the Indonesia Hospital, which lacks water, electricity, and medical staff.'

As reported by the Times of Israel, Israeli military spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani denied any connection between the fire at the hospital and Israeli military activities. However, witness statements collected by Al Jazeera and other media outlets refute Shoshani's claims, with WHO announcing reports proving intentional damage to the facility during the raid.

Following their release, female doctors like Shurouk al-Rantisi highlighted the fire outbreak at the hospital during the Israeli attack, stating, 'The Israeli army set fire to the archives section while besieging the hospital, and the flames subsequently spread to other departments.' Al-Kahlout, a nurse among the detainees, revealed that hospital staff and patients were held nearly naked in sub-zero temperatures for over 12 hours by the Israeli army.

The Gaza Health Ministry reported that Israeli forces arrested and took away hospital director Dr. Husam Abu Safiah. The Israeli military confirmed the detention of the hospital director, revealing that more than 240 individuals were apprehended during the operation.

UNRWA President Philippe Lazzarini stated that babies are freezing to death in Gaza due to cold weather and lack of shelter, while NRC Secretary-General Jan Egeland described the deaths of infants due to hypothermia in Gaza as a 'man-made' disaster.