Israel issues new evacuation orders in Gaza as struggling hospitals come under attack

Israel issued fresh evacuation orders yesterday for all remaining civilians to leave Beit Hanoun in northern Gaza as part of a three-month campaign that it denies is aimed at depopulating Palestinian territory.

- Bethan McKernan

The Israeli army forcibly evacuated Kamal Adwan hospital in Beit Lahia on Friday, leaving the northern third of the strip, which is cut off from the rest of Gaza, with just one small functioning medical centre, al-Awda in nearby Jabaliya.

Everyone remaining in Beit Lahiya yesterday was ordered to leave after Palestinian militants launched five rockets from the area that targeted Israeli territory.

Some patients were taken to the nearby Indonesian hospital, which is without water or electricity and is not in service. Medics were prevented by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) from joining them there, the local health ministry said.

The World Health Organization said it would send an emergency mission to the Indonesian hospital "to safely move patients to southern Gaza for continued care".

Israel's military said Kamal Adwan was being used as a base for Hamas operations, and that it would not allow services to resume there.

The Palestinian militant group denies using medical infrastructure as cover for its activities.