The Hamas movement has called for the urgent deployment of international and United Nations observers to Gaza’s hospitals to refute claims made by the Israeli army. These allegations suggest that hospitals are being used for military purposes, serving as justification for attacks on medical facilities.

This demand follows the devastating Israeli assault on Kamal Adwan Hospital, where the Israeli army stormed the facility, detained patients and medical staff, and set the hospital ablaze, rendering it inoperable.

In a statement on Sunday, Hamas condemned the systematic destruction of Gaza’s healthcare infrastructure, holding the United Nations and the international community accountable for failing to prevent the genocide against civilians in the Gaza Strip, which has continued for over 14 months.

The movement urged urgent international action, in line with international humanitarian law, to protect Gaza’s remaining hospitals and provide essential medical supplies. The Israeli army has accused Kamal Adwan Hospital of serving as a Hamas centre in northern Gaza.

The World Health Organization (WHO) reported at least 50 attacks on Kamal Adwan Hospital or its surroundings since October 2024, warning that the destruction of Gaza’s healthcare system and ongoing siege are putting the lives of 75,000 remaining residents in northern Gaza at grave risk.

Israeli forces detained over 350 individuals during the hospital raid, including 180 medical staff, 75 injured patients, and their companions, taking them to undisclosed locations. Released detainees reported severe abuse, beatings, and inhumane treatment during their captivity.

Since the onset of Israel’s genocidal campaign on 7 October 2023, over 153,000 Palestinians have been killed or wounded, including thousands of children and women. With hospitals destroyed, famine spreading, and humanitarian aid blocked, the crisis in Gaza shows no signs of abating.