'Hospitals are a lifeline for those wounded or sick in conflict,' ICRC reiterates call for protection of medical facilities in line with international humanitarian law
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on Monday warned that repeated hostilities in and around hospitals have "obliterated" the health care system in northern Gaza, putting civilians at an "unacceptably grave risk" of going without lifesaving care.
ICRC, in a statement, reiterated its urgent call for the respect and protection of medical facilities in line with international humanitarian law.
"This protection is a legal obligation and a moral imperative to preserve human life," it said. "Hospitals are a lifeline for those wounded or sick in conflict."
The Al-Awda Hospital, which was previously supported by the ICRC with supplies, is now absorbing more pressure as one of the few functioning medical facilities in northern Gaza, it said.
"The Kamal Adwan and Indonesian hospitals are now completely inoperable," the ICRC said. "For months, these medical facilities have struggled to provide care for patients as ongoing hostilities have damaged hospitals and endangered or harmed staff, patients, and civilians."
It stressed that "no patient can expect their medical needs to be fully met today," adding: "The influx of patients, caregivers, and displaced civilians seeking shelter creates a situation that medical personnel cannot solve. The increasingly dangerous situation comes in addition to more than a year of insufficient provision of medical equipment and supplies, fuel, food, and specialized healthcare capacities."
On Friday, Israeli forces raided Kamal Adwan Hospital, located in the northern town of Beit Lahia, burning large sections of the medical facility and forcing patients and displaced civilians to flee. The raid, the latest in a series of attacks on health care facilities put Kamal Adwan, the last remaining major hospital in the area, out of service, according to the WHO.
Israel has killed more than 45,500 people in Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023 and reduced the enclave to rubble.
In November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.
