Smoke rises following an Israeli strike near the Indonesian Hospital in the northern Gaza Strip, November 12, 2023. REUTERS/Anas al-Shareef/File Photo
Israeli Military Evacuates Indonesian Hospital in Gaza Amid Ongoing Conflict
The Israeli military forced the evacuation of the Indonesian Hospital in northern Gaza on Tuesday, a move that displaced patients and medical staff to other facilities miles away in Gaza City, according to Gaza’s health ministry.
The hospital, one of the few partially functioning medical centers in northern Gaza, has been under significant pressure during Israel’s military operations targeting Hamas in the surrounding communities of Beit Lahiya, Beit Hanoun, and Jabalia.
Israeli Military Claims and Palestinian Accusations
The Israeli military stated that the hospital was being used by Hamas fighters to launch attacks against its troops. The army claimed it facilitated the safe evacuation of civilians, medical personnel, and patients before and during the operation.
However, Munir Al-Bursh, director of Gaza’s health ministry, accused Israeli forces of storming the hospital early Tuesday after issuing evacuation orders on Monday. He described this as part of ongoing assaults on northern Gaza’s medical facilities, including Al-Awda and Kamal Adwan Hospitals, which have resisted evacuation orders since the offensive began on October 5.
Palestinian officials accuse Israel of attempting to depopulate northern Gaza permanently to establish a buffer zone, a claim Israel denies.
Damage to Hospitals Amid Resistance
At Kamal Adwan Hospital, director Hussam Abu Safiya reported severe damage caused by ongoing Israeli fire, which has compromised generators, oxygen pumps, and parts of the facility. Despite these conditions, hospital staff have continued to refuse evacuation orders, citing the difficulty of leaving patients without care.
An Israeli security official described Kamal Adwan as being in the center of a Hamas stronghold in Jabalia, emphasizing the complexity of the military’s operations in the area.
Ongoing Strikes and Rising Casualties
Israeli airstrikes across Gaza on Tuesday resulted in at least 15 Palestinian deaths, according to medics. This included six fatalities in Jabalia later in the day.
The conflict, triggered by Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel, which left 1,200 people dead and 251 taken hostage, has since caused significant destruction in Gaza. The Israeli military campaign has killed over 45,200 Palestinians, displaced the majority of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents, and left much of the enclave in ruins.
Mediation Efforts Continue
International mediators, including Egypt, Qatar, and the United States, have intensified efforts this month to broker a ceasefire and secure the release of hostages held by Hamas. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu acknowledged progress in the negotiations on Monday but cautioned that the timeline for tangible results remains uncertain.
While gaps between Israel and Hamas on a potential ceasefire have narrowed, critical issues remain unresolved, prolonging the conflict and its devastating humanitarian toll.
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