The Israeli siege of northern Gaza has entered its 22nd day, and according to the enclave’s Ministry of Health, Israeli forces have arrested the male staff of Kamal Adwan Hospital.
“At this moment, Israeli forces have arrested all male medical personnel at Kamal Adwan Hospital, along with several wounded and sick individuals in the hospital. Women have been confined to a room in the hospital without water or food,” the ministry stated.
“We call on all international institutions and relevant authorities to urgently intervene to protect the patients and medical staff working in the hospital,” the statement added.
Furthermore, the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Ghebreyesus, said on Friday that the WHO has lost contact with the staff of Kamal Adwan Hospital, describing the situation as “disturbing.”
On the same day, United Nations (UN) High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk warned that what is unfolding in northern Gaza represents “one of the darkest moments of the conflict in Gaza” and could amount to a “crime against humanity.”
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) were contacted for comment, but no immediate response was received.
In a statement on Friday, the Israeli military said that IDF forces were operating around Kamal Adwan Hospital “based on intelligence about the presence of terrorists and terrorist infrastructure.”
