The Palestinian Health Ministry has reported that over 240 Palestinians, including numerous medical staff, were detained by Israeli forces during a raid on a northern Gaza hospital on the 27th of December, 2024.
Among those taken was Hussam Abu Safiya, the director of Kamal Adwan Hospital, prompting fears for his safety.
Released staff alleged that Abu Safiya had been assaulted by soldiers during the operation.
Israeli military officials defended the raid, claiming the hospital was being used as a command hub for Hamas military activities.
They asserted that those arrested were suspected militants, including Abu Safiya, who is accused of being a Hamas operative and is currently under interrogation.
Hamas rejected these allegations, stating on the 27th of December, 2024, that no fighters had used the hospital during the 15-month Gaza war.
The group has yet to address the mass arrests directly.
However, on the 28th of December, 2024, it called for immediate international intervention to safeguard Gaza’s medical facilities, urging the United Nations to deploy observers to counter Israel’s claims of military activity within hospitals.
The World Health Organization (WHO) condemned the raid in a statement on X, revealing that it had rendered Kamal Adwan Hospital the last major healthcare center in northern Gaza non-operational.
“WHO is appalled by yesterday’s raid.
The systematic dismantling of the health system and an over-80-day siege on North Gaza endanger the lives of the remaining 75,000 Palestinians,” the organization stated, emphasizing the grave humanitarian implications.