IDF begins operation against Hamas in area of Kamal Adwan Hospital in Jabalya, Gaza
Officials in the Hamas-run Gaza health authority admitted that they ignored calls on Monday night to evacuate the Kamal Adwan hospital ahead of IDF operations.
IDF soldiers from the 401st Brigade, under the command of the 162nd Division, began operations in the area of the Kamal Adwan Hospital in Jabalya, Gaza, the military confirmed on Friday morning.
The Kamal Adwan Hospital has served as a Hamas stronghold in northern Gaza, the IDF claimed, noting Hamas’s presence in the institution since the onset of the war.
As part of the IDF’s operations, the military announced troops were conducting targeted operations in the area. The IDF stressed these operations were being carried out with significant efforts being made to mitigate potential harm to patients, medical staff and civilians.
These efforts included coordinating the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), local health officials and international bodies to evacuate civilians from the hospital. Patients were evacuated by ambulance to other hospitals through a secured and defined route, the military said.
In addition, Munir Al-Bursh, director of the Hamas-run health ministry, confirmed that the IDF gave notice to the hospital on Monday night to evacuate hours before troops entered the facility on Tuesday, Reuters reported.
Hussam Abu Safiya, director of the Kamal Adwan Hospital, said they resisted a new order by the army to evacuate hundreds of patients, their companions and staff, adding that the hospital has been under constant Israeli fire that damaged generators, oxygen pumps and parts of the building.
Separately, the IDF acknowledged in a later statement that “a small fire [broke out] in an empty building inside the hospital that is under control.” In response to “claims that the fire was caused by IDF gunfire,” the military said it was “currently unaware of any such incident.”
At a news conference Friday, the Hamas-run Gaza’s Health Ministry said fires inside the hospital are still raging, according to the Washington Post.
Hamas's violation of international law
The IDF stressed that, despite repeated calls for Hamas to refrain from exploiting Gaza’s hospitals for terror activities, the Iran-backed terror group has continued to violate international law by abusing civilian infrastructure and by using Gazans as human shields. This is despite repeated calls by the IDF to refrain from exploiting the hospital for military activities.
Last month, terrorists detonated an explosive device near a humanitarian convoy evacuating civilians from the hospital grounds. While no medical staff or patients aboard the convoy were wounded in the attack, the IDF reported that six children at the hospital were harmed by the explosion and the hospital building was damaged.
Hamas’s hold on the hospital has previously been reported on by the IDF, which published footage in October 2024 of a staff member at the hospital confirming, "Hamas military operatives are present; they are in the courtyards, at the gates of the buildings, in the offices of Kamal Adwan Hospital. They operate ambulances to transport their wounded military operatives, and to transport them for their missions, and this is instead of using the ambulances for the benefit of civilians."
In previous operations at the hospital, the IDF located weapons, money used for terror purposes, Hamas intelligence documents and arrested some 100 terrorists.
Last month, 60 terrorists surrendered outside the hospital after failing to flee during an IDF operation, which saw the medical institute and surrounding areas encircled by troops. At least one of the terrorists detained posed as a staff member and was found to have participated in the October 7 massacre, the IDF reported.
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