NewsHail
31 May 2025
The last working hospital in North Gaza, al-Awda, has shut down. Its director, Dr. Mohammed Salha, said the Israeli army told them to leave or they would attack.
The hospital had been under siege for two weeks and was hit many times. The director said they had no choice but to leave to protect lives.
On Thursday, after talks with the Israeli army, staff moved patients about 300 meters to waiting ambulances. The roads were destroyed, and medical tools had to be left behind.
The World Health Organization (WHO) said no hospitals are now working in North Gaza. This is a big problem for people who need care.
Some smaller health centers still work, but not many. The UN said 61 out of 158 health centers are working in Gaza, but it’s unclear how many are in the north.
The area where the hospital stood was marked as a war zone by the Israeli army. Israel says it is fighting Hamas, which it blames for attacks and for using aid.
Aid to Gaza has been very limited. The UN says people are starving. A new aid group backed by the U.S. and Israel has started food deliveries, but many aid groups do not support it.
Israel says it blocked supplies to pressure Hamas to release hostages. Hamas says the current ceasefire deal does not meet its needs.
The war began after Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. Since then, over 54,000 people have died in Gaza, according to local health officials.
