Two children die in intensive care in Gaza hospital in Israeli attack: Ministry

The health ministry in the Gaza Strip says two children have died at the last functioning hospital in the territory's north after Israel raided the facility.

A health ministry statement said on Friday evening that two children died in the intensive care unit after the generators at Kamal Adwan Hospital failed and Israeli occupation forces targeted the oxygen station.

"Two children have died in the intensive care unit after the hospital's generators failed and the oxygen station was targeted," said the health ministry statement.

It added that Israeli "forces are searching the hospital and shooting inside the various departments.”

“Three ambulances and one transport vehicle have been destroyed, hampering relief and transport operations. The solar-powered electricity system has also been destroyed, exacerbating the crisis,” the statement said.

“Currently, there are 195 patients and wounded, with 70 medical staff on site. Three nurses and one cleaner have been injured amidst the ongoing events,” it added.

The ministry added that some 600 people were inside the hospital and many of them were detained by Israeli troops.

Gaza's health ministry said Israeli forces detained hundreds of staff, patients and displaced people during the raid.

"Israeli forces have stormed and are present inside Kamal Adwan Hospital" in the city of Jabalia, the ministry said.

"They are detaining hundreds of patients, medical staff and some displaced individuals from neighboring areas who sought refuge in the hospital from continuous bombardment."

WHO chief: 600 patients, medical staff ‘under siege’ at Gaza hospital

World Health Organization (WHO) chief Tedros Ghebreyesus said that contact with the hospital had been lost since Friday morning.

"Since this morning's reports of a raid on Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza, we have lost touch with the personnel there," Ghebreyesus said on X.

"This development is deeply disturbing, given the number of patients being served and people sheltering there."

Later on, the WHO chief gave an update on the situation at the Kamal Adwan Hospital.

“Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza is still under siege, but we managed to get in touch with the staff. Three health workers and another employee have been injured, 44 health workers have been detained and four ambulances damaged. Around 600 patients, health workers and individuals are currently sheltering in the hospital,” Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on X.

“We urge for hospitals, health workers and patients to be protected. Ceasefire!”

The attack on the Kamal Adwan hospital, located in Beit Lahia northwest of Jabalia, was launched around 2 a.m. local time Friday, shortly after a WHO delegation left the hospital.

It began with airstrikes targeting the hospital and its courtyards, including the medical oxygen generator, said Dr. Munir al-Bursh, the director general of the Palestinian health ministry in Gaza.

The bombing led to the death of children inside the hospital and wounded medical staff.

‘Major massacre’: Scores killed as Israel attacks hospital, homes in Gaza

Israeli forces have stormed the last operational hospital in the besieged north Gaza after bombing it and killing children inside, according to doctors and media reports.

Israeli troops then raided the hospital around two hours later, calling on all patients, including people in intensive care, to gather in the courtyard.

Kamal Adwan is one of three hospitals in the northern Gaza Strip that have been under a suffocating Israeli siege for three weeks. They have received little to no aid, medicine, food and fuel since the blockade on the north began.

The other two, the Indonesian hospital and al-Awda hospital, have ceased operations in recent days due to the ongoing Israeli attacks.

Kamal Adwan remained operational at minimal capacity, offering life-saving services to newborn infants in neonatal intensive care units and other patients in ICUs.

Israel committing ‘medicide’

Tlaleng Mofokeng, the UN’s special rapporteur on the right to health, said Iareal has been committing “medicide” in its yearlong war on Gaza. The new term “medicide” refers to Israel's repeated attacks on healthcare centers and medical workers.

“In the same way we understand the right the journalists do as human rights defenders, this genocide has shown the incredible work that doctors and other healthcare workers do in a way I don’t think we’ve seen before,” she told a news conference.

“They are the oath takers, the ones who refused to leave and evacuate, and they stayed knowing what their fate was, caring for their patients.”

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