Hailey Tran
The conflict between Israel and Palestine has resulted in thousands of deaths on both sides. The World Health Organization (WHO) has condemned Israel's repeated orders for the evacuation of hospitals in northern Gaza, stating that the forced evacuation of patients and health workers will worsen the current humanitarian crisis. Al Ahli Arab Hospital, which was treating over 2000 inpatients, was one of 20 hospitals in the north of the Gaza Strip facing evacuation orders from the Israeli military. There are reports of Israeli forces opening fire on Palestinian aid seekers near the Netzarim axis in central Gaza, killing at least 22 people, and injuring many more.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Did Israel warn hospitals to evacuate? | Yes, there are reports of Israel warning hospitals in Gaza to evacuate. |
| Number of hospitals | 22 hospitals, including Al Ahli Arab Hospital, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). |
| Number of inpatients | Over 2000 inpatients in northern Gaza, according to WHO. |
| Impact on patients | Critically ill and fragile patients are at risk of deterioration or death if forced to move and cut off from medical attention. |
| Impact on health workers | Health workers face impossible choices and risk their lives to stay and care for patients. |
| Displacement | Tens of thousands of displaced people in northern Gaza seek refuge in and around hospitals. |
| Deaths | There are verified reports of deaths of health care workers and destruction of health facilities. |
| Condemnation | WHO and other human rights organizations condemn Israel's evacuation orders, calling them "a death sentence." |
| Calls for reversal | WHO, the Archbishop of Canterbury, and other organizations call on Israel to reverse evacuation orders and protect health facilities and workers. |
| Humanitarian impact | The evacuation orders worsen the humanitarian crisis, with acute shortages of food, water, medical supplies, fuel, and shelter. |
| Functional hospitals | Only 19 of 36 hospitals in the Gaza Strip remain operational as of May 2025, with many damaged or destroyed. |
| Israeli response | Israel has not responded to enquiries about evacuation orders and continues to intensify military operations. |
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What You'll Learn
- The World Health Organization (WHO) condemns Israel's evacuation orders
- Israeli military denies evacuation warnings, claims hospitals are used as military control centres
- Hospitals in northern Gaza are a haven for displaced people
- Al Ahli Arab Hospital was warned of an airstrike by Israel
- Israel's intensified military operations threaten an already weakened health system
The World Health Organization (WHO) condemns Israel's evacuation orders
The World Health Organization (WHO) has strongly condemned Israel's repeated evacuation orders for hospitals in northern Gaza. The forced evacuation of patients and health workers is expected to worsen the already catastrophic humanitarian and public health situation in the region. The WHO emphasizes that the lives of many critically ill and fragile patients are at stake, including those in intensive care, on life support, undergoing hemodialysis, newborns in incubators, and women with pregnancy complications.
The conflict between Israel and Gaza has resulted in a dire situation for the healthcare system in Gaza. Four major hospitals in Gaza, including Kamal Adwan Hospital and Indonesia Hospital, have had to suspend their medical services due to their proximity to hostilities or evacuation zones. As of May 2025, only 19 of the 36 hospitals in the Gaza Strip remain operational, facing severe supply shortages, staff shortages, insecurity, and a surge of casualties. The WHO recorded 697 attacks on healthcare in Gaza since October 2023, with only 94% of hospitals in the Gaza Strip damaged or destroyed.
The Al Ahli Arab Hospital, which was the subject of a specific evacuation order, is one of 20 hospitals in the north of the Gaza Strip facing evacuation orders from the Israeli military. Palestinian Anglican Archbishop Hosam Naoum, who runs the hospital, confirmed that the Israeli military had contacted them multiple times, asking patients and staff to leave. The Archbishop of Canterbury also appealed to Israel to reverse its evacuation order on hospitals in northern Gaza.
The WHO and other human rights organizations have emphasized that the evacuation orders are impossible to carry out without putting patients at risk. Caregivers have chosen to stay behind and honor their oaths as health professionals, even at the risk of their own lives. Tens of thousands of displaced people in northern Gaza are seeking refuge in and around hospitals, further complicating the situation. The WHO has called for Israel to immediately reverse the evacuation orders and protect health facilities, health workers, patients, and civilians.
The situation in Gaza has been characterized by mass population displacement, acute shortages of food, water, medical supplies, fuel, and shelter. The ongoing conflict and evacuation orders have left North Gaza without any functioning healthcare facilities, with the last hospital in the North Gaza governorate evacuating after an Israeli order. The UN humanitarian agency OCHA reported that apart from hospitals, only 61 of 158 primary healthcare centers were partially or fully functional in Gaza. The impact of the evacuation orders extends beyond the immediate threat to patients' lives, as the healthcare system in Gaza struggles to cope with the ongoing crisis.
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Israeli military denies evacuation warnings, claims hospitals are used as military control centres
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has resulted in thousands of deaths and a worsening humanitarian crisis. The World Health Organization (WHO) has condemned Israel's repeated evacuation orders for hospitals in northern Gaza, stating that it will worsen the current humanitarian catastrophe. The WHO has emphasized the impact of such orders on hospitals, specifically mentioning the Al Ahli Arab Hospital as one of 20 hospitals in the north of the Gaza Strip facing evacuation orders. However, the Israeli military has denied these evacuation warnings, with Israel's Defence Minister, Israel Katz, accusing Hamas of using hospitals as military control centres.
Archbishop Hosam Naoum, who runs the Al Ahli Arab Hospital, contradicted the Israeli military's claims, stating that the Israeli military had contacted hospital managers on multiple occasions, asking them to evacuate the compound. These warnings were specific to the hospital and not part of a wider push to evacuate civilians from northern Gaza. WHO has recorded 697 attacks on healthcare in Gaza since October 2023, with only 19 of the Gaza Strip's 36 hospitals remaining operational.
The last hospital providing health services in the North Gaza governorate, al-Awda hospital, was evacuated after an Israeli order. Dr Mohammed Salha, the facility's director, stated that patients were evacuated after "two weeks of siege," and there was now "no health facility working in the north." The Israeli military threatened to enter and kill whoever remained inside the hospital if they did not comply. This forced evacuation comes as a result of Israel's intensified military operations, which have threatened an already weakened health system and caused mass population displacement.
The ongoing conflict has resulted in a dire situation for civilians, with acute shortages of food, water, medical supplies, fuel, and shelter. Hospitals in Gaza have struggled to operate beyond maximum capacity, with tens of thousands of displaced people seeking refuge in and around hospitals. The UN has also condemned the looting of medical aid at a field hospital in central Gaza, stating that the entire population of Gaza is at risk of famine due to Israel's blockade.
While the Israeli military denies evacuation warnings, the impact of the conflict on hospitals and healthcare in Gaza is undeniable. The situation has led to a worsening humanitarian crisis, with civilians bearing the brunt of the violence and a lack of access to basic healthcare and essential supplies.
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Hospitals in northern Gaza are a haven for displaced people
Hospitals in northern Gaza are a haven for thousands of displaced people seeking refuge from violence and potential attacks. The World Health Organization (WHO) has strongly condemned Israel's repeated evacuation orders for 22 hospitals treating more than 2000 inpatients in the region. The forced evacuation of patients and healthcare workers would worsen the existing humanitarian crisis, putting the lives of critically ill patients at risk.
Despite conflicting accounts, there is evidence that Israel ordered the evacuation of hospitals and the surrounding areas in northern Gaza. The Palestinian Anglican Archbishop Hosam Naoum confirmed that the Israeli military had contacted hospital managers multiple times, specifically instructing them to evacuate the premises.
The situation in Gaza is dire, with mass population displacement, acute shortages of essential supplies, and a struggling healthcare system. Hospitals are overwhelmed with injured patients and are operating beyond maximum capacity. Four major hospitals in Gaza have suspended medical services due to their proximity to conflict zones or evacuation orders. The ongoing conflict has damaged or destroyed most hospitals in the Gaza Strip, with only a handful of medical centers remaining functional.
The Indonesian Hospital and Al-Awda Hospital, two of the last functioning hospitals in northern Gaza, have been encircled by Israeli troops, hindering the movement of people and supplies. The Israeli military has justified its presence by targeting Hamas infrastructure, but its actions have raised concerns about the potential displacement of the Gazan population.
The conflict has resulted in widespread devastation, with Israeli strikes and demolitions leaving many buildings in ruins. The targeting of hospitals and the disruption of healthcare services have severe consequences for the health and well-being of the displaced people seeking refuge in and around medical facilities.
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Al Ahli Arab Hospital was warned of an airstrike by Israel
The Al Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City was the last fully functional hospital in the city before an Israeli airstrike destroyed parts of it. The Israeli military launched a campaign to destroy Hamas, a Palestinian militant group, after an unprecedented cross-border attack on 7 October 2023, which killed about 1,200 Israelis.
The Israeli military warned the hospital to evacuate on multiple occasions. The Palestinian Anglican Archbishop Hosam Naoum, who runs the hospital, stated that the Israeli military had called and texted hospital managers at least three times since 14 October, specifically asking patients and staff to leave the hospital compound. The Archbishop of Canterbury appealed to Israel to reverse its evacuation order. The World Health Organization (WHO) also condemned Israel's evacuation orders, stating that they would worsen the current humanitarian and public health catastrophe.
There are conflicting reports about whether the explosion at the hospital was caused by an Israeli airstrike. The Gaza Health Ministry and the Hamas-run government media office claimed that it was, with Hamas stating that Israel struck the hospital as punishment for the failure to evacuate. However, other sources, including the Associated Press, Le Monde, and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), claimed that the explosion was likely caused by a rocket fired from Gaza, with the IDF stating that they targeted the hospital because it contained a "command and control centre used by Hamas".
The strike destroyed the intensive care and surgery departments of the hospital, and forced the displacement of patients and hospital staff. A local journalist reported that an IDF officer phoned a doctor in the emergency department and asked them to evacuate the hospital immediately. One child, who had previously suffered a head injury, died as a result of the rushed evacuation process.
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Israel's intensified military operations threaten an already weakened health system
Israel's intensified military operations are threatening an already weakened health system in Gaza, amidst worsening mass population displacement and acute shortages of food, water, medical supplies, fuel, and shelter. The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that the situation is reaching a breaking point, with hospitals forced out of service due to their proximity to hostilities or evacuation zones and attacks.
In the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran, Israel has issued evacuation warnings to hospitals in Gaza. There are reports that Israel ordered the evacuation of 22 hospitals treating more than 2000 inpatients in northern Gaza, including the Al Ahli Arab Hospital. WHO and other human rights organizations have condemned these evacuation orders, stating that they will worsen the humanitarian and public health catastrophe in the region. Caregivers have chosen to stay behind and risk their lives to honour their oaths as health professionals.
The conflict between Israel and Iran has resulted in mass casualties on both sides. Israeli attacks in Gaza have killed civilians, including women and children gathered near food distribution sites. Iranian state television reported that Israel carried out strikes on Iran's Arak heavy water reactor as part of its attack on Iran's nuclear program, but asserted that there was no radiation danger.
The impact of the intensified military operations on the health system in Gaza is severe. Four major hospitals in Gaza have had to suspend medical services in the past week due to their proximity to conflict zones or evacuation areas, and attacks. These include Kamal Adwan Hospital, Indonesia Hospital, Hamad Hospital for Rehabilitation and Prosthetics, and European Gaza Hospital. WHO recorded 28 attacks on healthcare in Gaza in the past week and 697 attacks since October 2023. Only 19 of the Gaza Strip's 36 hospitals remain operational, and they are struggling with severe supply shortages, a lack of health workers, persistent insecurity, and a surge of casualties.
The systematic destruction of hospitals and the challenging security situation have inhibited patients from accessing care, obstructed staff from providing treatment, and prevented WHO and its partners from resupplying hospitals. The cycle of rehabilitating and resupplying hospitals, only for them to be attacked again, must end. WHO calls for the active protection of healthcare and unimpeded humanitarian access to reach people in need.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, in October 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO) indicated that Israel ordered the evacuation of many hospitals in northern Gaza. The WHO strongly condemned the orders, stating that the forced evacuation of patients and health workers would worsen the current humanitarian and public health catastrophe.
Yes, in June 2025, the Israeli military issued evacuation warnings to hospitals in southern Israel. Dozens were injured in a strike on Soroka Hospital in the southern city of Beersheba.
Israel's evacuation orders and intensified military operations have threatened an already weakened health system in Gaza. As of May 2025, only 19 of Gaza's 36 hospitals remain operational, with the rest damaged or destroyed. The ongoing conflict has also resulted in acute shortages of food, water, medical supplies, fuel, and shelter.
