The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) issued a stark warning on Monday, highlighting the collapse of northern Gaza’s healthcare system due to ongoing hostilities around hospitals, leaving civilians at a dire risk of losing access to critical care. The ICRC stressed that hospitals must be safeguarded under international law, calling it both a legal and moral duty to protect these life-saving facilities.
With the Al-Awda Hospital now overwhelmed, it stands as one of the few remaining medical facilities still functioning in the region. Meanwhile, the Kamal Adwan and Indonesian hospitals have been rendered completely non-operational due to continuous attacks, further exacerbating the dire situation. The ICRC noted that medical staff are overwhelmed by the constant influx of patients and displaced civilians, while a lack of resources, including medical supplies, fuel, and specialized healthcare, has compounded the problem.
The latest blow came on Friday when Israeli forces raided Kamal Adwan Hospital, setting parts of it on fire and forcing patients and civilians to flee. This raid has left the hospital, the last major one in the area, unable to provide medical services, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Since October 7, 2023, Israel’s actions have claimed over 45,500 lives in Gaza, with the region reduced to rubble.
In light of these events, Israel faces accusations of war crimes and genocide, with the International Criminal Court issuing arrest warrants for Israeli leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and a case before the International Court of Justice over its actions in Gaza.
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