GAZA (Palestine Foundation Information Center) The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) stormed on Thursday morning Al-Awda Hospital in the northern Gaza Strip, forcing doctors and healthcare professionals to evacuate and detaining dozens.
The IOF had besieged the medical facility in the Jabalia refugee camp for four days, blocking ambulances and all access for humanitarian groups. During the siege, Israeli tanks attacked the hospital multiple times with projectiles and machine guns.
Leaving their patients behind, a mass exodus of doctors, nurses, and paramedics were ordered to walk westwards on foot to seek safety and shelter.
According to the Awda Health and Community Association, there are still 14 employees, 11 wounded civilians and two women taking care of children.
The Awda Association said that the hospital administration refused to evacuate the wounded unless there were ambulances to transport them.
In last December, the IOF had besieged the same hospital for 18 days, during which they bombed some of its floors and killed three of its medical employees.
No hospitals are currently operating in northern Gaza.
