Last Hospital in Northern Gaza Shuts Down Amid Ongoing Conflict and Winter Crisis

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The Kamal-Adwan Hospital in Beit Lahia, the last functioning medical facility in northern Gaza, has ceased operations following an Israeli military offensive. This has compounded the already dire humanitarian situation in the region, intensified by the onset of winter. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) claimed that the hospital was being utilized by Hamas and conducted operations accordingly, leading to the evacuation of patients, medical staff, and the arrest of over 240 suspected militants, including the hospital director.

Israeli reports state that 19 Palestinians, identified as terrorists, were killed during the clashes, while the Palestinian Ministry of Health claims a total of 50 fatalities, including five hospital staff members. The ongoing conflict has left the healthcare system in Gaza critically compromised, with the World Health Organization indicating that the remaining medical facilities are also not fully operational due to prior damage from military operations.

As temperatures drop, humanitarian conditions worsen significantly, with reports of six children having died from exposure last week. Many of the 2.2 million residents of Gaza are living in tents amid relentless attacks, facing not only the violence of ongoing warfare but also harsh winter conditions. The United Nations estimates that up to a million people are enduring these challenges without adequate shelter or food.

Concerns grow regarding the Israeli strategy in the region, with military operations ongoing across northern Gaza as they attempt to control the area. Critics argue that, despite claims of success, the operations have not subdued Hamas. The people of Gaza continue to bear the brunt of this conflict, facing unimaginable hardship as access to medical care and basic necessities dwindles.

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