Israel has ordered the forced evacuation of one of the last functioning health facilities in northern Gaza, claiming the Kamal Adwan Hospital is a "Hamas terrorist stronghold."
The besieged hospital in Beit Lahiya has been the target of repeated strikes and raids by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in recent months, as Israel's bombardment of northern Gaza intensified.
In a series of posts on social media the director of Kamal Adwan, Dr Hussam Abu Safiya detailed the latest Israeli attack on his hospital, saying staff and patients were being evacuated.
"The occupation army is burning all the operating departments in the hospital while we are still there," he posted on Instagram.
"The army evacuated the entire medical staff and the displaced people and arrested a number of the medical staff.
"There are a large number of injuries among the medical staff."
The IDF said there had been a small fire in an empty building inside the hospital.
"Regarding claims that the fire was caused by IDF gunfire, the IDF is currently unaware of any such incident," it said.
Hours earlier, Dr Abu Safiya said around 50 people had been killed in Israeli strikes in the area around the hospital, including five staff — a paediatrician, two paramedics, a lab technician and a maintenance worker.
"Another dark day in the series of crimes against Kamal Adwan Hospital and its staff," he posted.
The IDF said Hamas militants were operating from Kamal Adwan.
"It has once again become a key stronghold for terrorist organisations and continues to be used as a hideout for terrorist operatives," it said.
"This is despite repeated calls by the IDF to refrain from exploiting the hospital for military activities.
"The troops are conducting targeted operations in the area while mitigating harm to uninvolved civilians, patients, and medical personnel."
The IDF accused Hamas of violating international law by "abusing civilian infrastructure and the Gazan population as shields for its terrorist activities."
International law dictates hospitals are protected during wars, unless used for purposes other than providing medical care.
Israel said it would be transferring patients to other hospitals in Gaza.
It did not specify which facilities would take them, and there are significant concerns about the ability of other medical centres to deal with their existing patients, let alone others from Kamal Adwan.
In a statement, the Hamas-run Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza said Kamal Adwan was experiencing a "suffocating siege", and that patients were being transferred at gunpoint to the Indonesian Hospital in northern Gaza.
The ministry said there were only three hospitals in the area.
"Beit Hanoun hospital was completely destroyed, and the Indonesian Hospital was completely out of order after all infrastructure was destroyed," it said.
"The only hospital that was partially functioning … is Kamal Adwan Hospital."
Israel's siege of northern Gaza stretches into third month
For almost three months, the IDF has laid siege to northern Gaza — targeting what it described as Hamas militants regrouping in the area.
Towns such as Beit Lahiya, where Kamal Adwan Hospital is, and Jabalia are now little more than rubble after the relentless bombardment.
More than 100,000 Palestinians have been forced out of the area during the campaign.
The IDF has denied allegations it is trying to starve the population and cut northern Gaza off from the rest of the territory.
It insists aid can get in to the area, despite humanitarian organisations arguing it is too dangerous to send much needed food and medical supplies into northern Gaza while the intense fighting continues.
