In a tense escalation, Israeli forces raided the Kamal Adwan Hospital in Gaza’s Jabalia refugee camp, detaining hundreds of patients, medical personnel, and displaced individuals seeking shelter. The operation occurred amidst heavy shelling in northern Gaza, marking what the UN Human Rights Chief Volker Turk described as the conflict’s “darkest moment.” The raid has fueled mounting concerns over the toll on civilians, with casualties rapidly increasing.
The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that it lost all communication with staff at Kamal Adwan Hospital on Friday morning. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expressed deep concern, stressing the need to protect both medical staff and vulnerable patients amid the escalating crisis.
“We urge an immediate halt to hostilities around healthcare facilities,” Tedros stated, calling the incident “deeply disturbing.”
During Thursday’s WHO visit to a checkpoint near the hospital, WHO representative Rik Peeperkorn witnessed what he described as “mayhem and chaos,” with thousands of women and children seen limping towards Gaza City, carrying only their essentials. As the UN warns of an exodus of Palestinians from northern Gaza, Israel’s military insists its operations aim to dismantle Hamas capabilities in the area.
Elsewhere in northern Gaza, Israeli drone strikes killed 12 people waiting for aid near the Al-Shati refugee camp, as reported by Gaza’s civil defense agency. In southern Gaza’s Khan Yunis, a separate strike on the Fara family home resulted in 14 casualties, including nine children, leaving survivors mourning the loss of family members amid the relentless bombardments.
The intensifying conflict has also spread into Lebanon, where three journalists lost their lives following an Israeli strike in Hasbaya. Lebanon’s Prime Minister Najib Mikati condemned the incident, accusing Israel of “war crimes.” Nearby, other journalists were reportedly asleep when the strike occurred, with Al Mayadeen cameraman Ghassan Najjar and broadcast engineer Mohammad Reda among the fatalities. The Israeli military stated it targeted Hezbollah militants, who they claim use the area to launch strikes into Israel.
The Israel-Hezbollah conflict has driven hundreds of thousands from Lebanon into Syria, creating a crisis at the Syrian border. The UN refugee agency warned that Israel’s strikes on a crucial northern crossing point, frequently used by refugees, risk shutting off a primary lifeline for those fleeing the violence.
As Israel continues its campaign, concerns from global agencies over the humanitarian impact and escalating civilian casualties remain at the forefront, with the UN and WHO urging international action to protect civilians trapped in the ongoing crisis.
