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The director of one of the last functioning hospitals in northern Gaza, Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, was detained by Israeli forces, according to Palestinian medical officials. The arrest came as overnight airstrikes on Gaza killed nine people, including children, while sirens were heard across Israel.
Gaza’s Health Ministry reported that Dr. Abu Safiya, who oversees Kamal Adwan Hospital, was arrested by Israeli troops on Friday. This followed a prior incident in which Israeli forces stormed the hospital, forcing staff and patients to strip in the cold winter weather. Israel’s military did not provide any comment on Dr. Abu Safiya’s detention but claimed its operations targeted Hamas militants and infrastructure in the area. The military also repeated accusations that Hamas fighters operate within the hospital, though hospital officials have denied these claims.
Kamal Adwan Hospital has been struck multiple times over the past months during Israel’s offensive against Hamas, with a recent attack killing five medical workers. The ongoing bombardment has severely impacted Gaza’s healthcare sector. According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, the war has killed over 45,400 Palestinians, including a significant number of women and children, with more than 108,000 others wounded.
Dr. Abu Safiya was detained alongside other hospital staff and taken to an Israeli interrogation center. MedGlobal, a humanitarian organization with which he is affiliated, expressed grave concern for his well-being, describing the detentions of medical personnel as part of a troubling trend targeting healthcare workers and facilities.
Israel’s nearly 15-month-long military campaign has isolated northern Gaza, particularly areas like Jabaliya, Beit Hanoun, and Beit Lahiya, where many civilians remain despite large-scale evacuations. Kamal Adwan Hospital is one of the few remaining medical facilities in the area.
Israel’s actions follow the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on southern Israel, which killed around 1,200 people and led to the abduction of approximately 250 others. Israel has vowed to dismantle Hamas in retaliation.
As of Saturday, Israel continued airstrikes across Gaza, including a deadly raid in Maghazi, which claimed at least nine lives. Simultaneously, air raid sirens sounded in Israel, where the military reported intercepting a missile fired by Yemen’s Houthi rebels, who have been targeting Israeli interests and demanding a ceasefire in Gaza.
