Two of Northern Gaza’s Last Hospitals Surrounded by Israeli Forces

Jehad Alshrafi / AP

Palestinians evacuate their neighbourhoods following an evacuation warning from the Israeli army.

Two of the final remaining operational hospitals in northern Gaza—al-Awda and the Indonesian Hospital—have reportedly been encircled by Israeli forces, according to hospital staff and reports from the Associated Press (AP). Despite being located within areas under evacuation orders, neither facility has received direct instructions to evacuate, leaving medical personnel and patients in an increasingly dangerous situation.

Al-Awda Hospital is currently sheltering around 140 staff and 47 patients, including children and expectant mothers. Drones and continuous shelling have isolated the facility, preventing the use of ambulances. At the Indonesian Hospital, bombardment has damaged essential infrastructure, cut off water and electricity, and claimed the life of at least one member of staff.

The World Health Organization has warned that both hospitals face imminent closure if the situation continues, as fuel, medical supplies, and safety deteriorate rapidly. Nearly 700 attacks on Gaza’s healthcare infrastructure have been documented since the conflict began.

The broader humanitarian picture is increasingly bleak. A prolonged blockade has left vital resources in critically short supply. The United Nations has issued a grave warning that 14,000 infants in Gaza are at risk of death within days unless urgent aid is delivered. Although Israel has allowed a limited number of humanitarian lorries into the territory, the flow remains significantly lower than the pre-conflict average of 500 vehicles per day.

According to AP, humanitarian organisations are urgently calling for the protection of medical facilities, the safe evacuation of patients and staff, and unrestricted access for aid. The crisis continues to spark international concern as the health system in Gaza edges closer to total collapse.



PUKMEDIA / AP