In brief
The evacuation of al-Awda hospital in Jabalia strips North Gaza of its final health services as military tensions persist, leaving vulnerable populations in dire need of medical care amidst ongoing conflict.
The al-Awda hospital in Jabalia has been forced to cease operations following an Israeli military order for immediate evacuation, according to hospital director Dr. Mohammed Salha. The evacuation took place on Thursday evening, marking the end of healthcare services in the North Gaza governorate after a two-week siege. Dr. Salha expressed deep concern over the situation, explaining that threats from Israeli forces prompted the evacuation to protect the lives of both patients and staff of the hospital. In a voice note to the BBC, he described the fear stemming from possible military action, including bombardment of the hospital, which led to the difficult decision to evacuate. After extensive negotiations, during which he initially resisted leaving patients behind, Dr. Salha eventually complied, resulting in the relocation of patients more than 300 meters to waiting ambulances due to the destruction of local roads.Videos shared by hospital staff depicted the harrowing evacuation, as people—some wearing identifiable hospital vests—loaded patients into ambulances parked away from the heavily affected hospital site. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that logistical challenges prevented the relocation of medical equipment, leaving the area devoid of any operating hospitals as a result of ongoing hostilities.In the face of intense military operations, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) had extended evacuation orders to multiple areas in Gaza, which they described as combat zones due to the presence of what they identified as terrorist organizations. The hospital itself had reported being under siege multiple times and sustaining damage, with critical supplies and medical resources lost.Despite some primary healthcare centers remaining functional in Gaza, the closure of the al-Awda hospital leaves the North Gaza governorate without a critical medical lifeline. WHO’s director-general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, emphasized the urgency of protecting healthcare facilities and the civilian population amid escalating conflict.As military actions ramp up, aid and humanitarian support remain stagnant, with the international community urging Israel to facilitate the entry of essential supplies. The current humanitarian crisis has rendered more than 2 million people in Gaza at "critical risk" of famine, as accusations of forced starvation by aid advocates emerge. Meanwhile, protests against aid distribution intensify within Israel, reflecting the complex dynamics surrounding the ongoing conflict, where the search for hostages and the provision of humanitarian aid continue amid rising tensions.
