Israel Converts Al-Awda Hospital into Military Base
Gaza’s Health Ministry stated that Israel has converted the Al-Awda Hospital into a military base.
Ashraf Al-Qudra, spokesperson for Gaza’s Health Ministry, reported this morning on Tuesday, December 19th, the detention of 240 people including patients, medical personnel, and displaced persons residing in the hospital. According to his statements, Israeli military forces have converted the aforementioned hospital into a military base.
According to Palestinian media reports, the death toll from the bombardment of several houses in eastern Rafah, located in southern Gaza Strip, has reached 29 people, including several journalists among the casualties. Additionally, in the bombardment of a residential complex in the Jabalia camp by Israel, dozens were killed and 40 wounded. Following the bombardment of a medical center near Jabalia, two journalists were also injured.
According to the Israeli newspaper Times of Israel, 7 Israeli army soldiers were also killed in combat yesterday in Gaza Strip, and the number of Israeli army casualties since the start of ground operations in Gaza Strip has now reached 129.
A World Health Organization official, referring to the attack by Israeli forces on a hospital in northern Gaza Strip, said: “The hospital in northern Gaza Strip that was attacked by Israeli forces has suspended operations and evacuated patients including children. This situation will expose the already collapsed healthcare services in Gaza Strip to greater dangers.”
The World Health Organization, while emphasizing the need to gather information about Kamal Adwan Hospital, which Israeli forces have destroyed its surroundings under the pretext of use by Hamas operatives and forced displaced persons to leave, announced: “While many Gaza residents have been displaced towards the southern part of the city, reports indicate that hundreds of thousands remain in the north, and nearly 4,000 displaced persons have sought shelter at Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis, who are at risk with the continuation of Israeli attacks.”
U.S. President Joe Biden has also reacted to and criticized Israel’s indiscriminate bombardment of Gaza. He emphasized in this regard that Israel must exercise greater care in avoiding civilian casualties.
