Palestinian hospital director Hussam Abu Safiya has been wounded in an Israeli strike in north Gaza [Screengrab/X]
An Israeli strike which targeted north Gaza’s Kamal Adwan hospital and its surrounding areas has wounded the facility’s director, Hussam Abu Safiya and several medical staff late on Saturday, various reports stated.
According to Arabi21, Abu Safiya was wounded by shrapnel from a bomb dropped by a quadcopter drone as he was checking on patients in hospital corridors.
Sources quoted in local media reports also added that an Israeli drone bombed the oxygen station at the hospital, and that there were urgent warnings of a fire breaking out at the hospital following the attack.
In video footage circulating online, Abu Safiya said he will “continue to provide care no matter the cost…it’s an honour for me to serve people that are still here” he said speaking from a hospital bed.
“We will continue to provide humanitarian care no matter what, we are steadfast, before the world which is unjust and has violated our rights. On a daily basis they [Israeli army] has violated our rights, targeted us, targeted our workers, targeted me…God willing I will heal and continue to provide care” he added.
The attack came just after Abu Safiya issued an urgent call on Friday, denouncing the intense Israeli siege on north Gaza, which has been ongoing for over one month. He also condemned Israel’s constant bombardment of medical facilities and hospitals.
“Patients and medical staff at Kamal Adwan have been living in a catastrophic situation for over 40 days” Abu Safiya said on Friday.
“There are 58 wounded people who are currently besieged in the hospital, including children and women and they are receiving minimum health services. At least eight are in critical condition staying in intensive care, while 14 are in the children’s department” he continued.
The hospital director has been giving regular updates on the health situation since Israel launched its war on the besieged Gaza Strip on 7 October 2023. The prominent doctor and human rights defender is well known for refusing to follow Israel’s forced evacuation orders, instead continuing to treat patients in urgent need of care.
In recent days, Abu Safiya said that Israeli forces directly targeted medical staff twice, once in the emergency department and once in the radiology department, which caused serious injuries.
For over a month, the Israeli army has placed the entirety of north Gaza under a full siege, not allowing anyone to enter or exit, while it is bombarded from above and ground forces carry out attacks.
Israel has also prevented ambulances, medicine, food and civil defence crews from entering the north, despite widespread calls to stop such violations and restrictions.
According to Arabi21, Abu Safiya’s so was killed by Israeli forces in previous bombing of north Gaza.
Israel’s war on Gaza has killed at least 44,176 Palestinians and wounded over 104,473 since October 2023. The war on the enclave has plunged the Strip into a humanitarian crisis, levelling entire neighbourhoods.
