Despite being operational, the hospital, which housed patients, health caregivers, and internally displaced individuals, faced a devastating assault resulting in early reports of hundreds of fatalities and injuries.

“The hospital was one of 20 in the north of the Gaza Strip facing evacuation orders from the Israeli military. The order for evacuation has been impossible to carry out given the current insecurity, critical condition of many patients, and lack of ambulances, staff, health system bed capacity, and alternative shelter for those displaced,” WHO said.

WHO urgently called for the active protection of civilians and healthcare facilities. The reversal of evacuation orders is essential, and adherence to international humanitarian law, which mandates the active protection of healthcare and prohibits its targeting, is paramount. (ILKHA)