Tue Dec 24 10:03:32 UTC 2024: ## Israeli Military Targets Three Gaza Hospitals Amidst Intensifying Attacks
**Gaza City, Palestine –** The Israeli military is facing widespread condemnation for its targeting of three major hospitals in northern Gaza, amidst a week of intensified attacks on the besieged enclave. Kamal Adwan Hospital, Indonesian Hospital, and al-Awda Hospital have all been subjected to repeated strikes, leaving them severely damaged and largely inoperable.
On Tuesday, two explosive-laden drones detonated near Kamal Adwan Hospital, injuring approximately 20 patients and staff. The hospital director, Hussam Abu Safia, told Al Jazeera that this marked the first time explosives had been used outside the hospital, but similar tactics have been reported elsewhere in northern Gaza. The hospital’s intensive care unit, among other departments, is now non-functional due to repeated bombings.
Al-Awda Hospital, a charitable facility, suffered a third-floor hit, resulting in a fire that spread to nearby residential buildings. The Indonesian Hospital, a larger facility, has also faced increased attacks and was issued an evacuation order by Israeli forces. Both Indonesian and Kamal Adwan Hospitals have played a crucial role in providing medical supplies and transferring patients during the conflict.
The Gaza Ministry of Health and the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) have condemned the attacks, stating that the Israeli military is attempting to render the three hospitals unusable and that the actions constitute “genocide.” The PCHR highlighted over 20 attacks on Kamal Adwan Hospital in recent days.
The situation is further exacerbated by the Israeli military’s blockade of humanitarian aid, creating immense challenges for aid delivery. An Israeli drone attack on a humanitarian aid convoy near Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital on Monday night, following reported looting by gangs, highlights the perilous conditions facing aid workers. UN OCHA head Tom Fletcher stated that Gaza is facing its most dangerous humanitarian situation yet, with access severely restricted and aid workers facing unprecedented levels of danger.
Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes continue, with at least 32 deaths reported in the past 24 hours, including four in a house bombing that killed a child and two women. The ongoing attacks and the crippling of hospitals are raising serious concerns about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the potential for further escalation.
First Piper 