Gaza’s Healthcare System on the Brink of Collapse
For weeks, as fighting escalated around the Kamal Adwan Hospital, its head Hossam Abu Safiyeh made desperate appeals to the international community to intervene and stop the violence “before it is too late”. (AFP pic)
Israel’s Raid on Gaza Hospital
Israel’s raid on a major Gaza hospital and the arrest of its director over alleged links to Hamas have drawn global attention to the war-ravaged territory’s crumbling healthcare system. The raid on Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza’s Beit Lahia area ended a day later, with the military announcing that it killed more than 20 militants and arrested over 240, including Abu Safiyeh on suspicion of “being a Hamas operative”.
Healthcare System on the Brink of Collapse
The World Health Organisation has said Kamal Adwan hospital has been out of service ever since, a massive blow to the healthcare system in northern Gaza, where tens of thousands live under ongoing Israeli bombardment. The hospital’s closure has left patients without access to medical care, and the situation is described as "catastrophic and tragic" by Gaza’s civil defence agency.
Abu Safiyeh’s Whereabouts Unknown
Since then, the whereabouts of the 51-year-old paediatrician have been unknown. His family believes he is being detained at the Sde Teiman military base in the Negev desert, near Gaza. "This detention centre is notorious for the mistreatment of prisoners," his son, Idris Abu Safiyeh, said in a video message on Monday evening. "We have received testimonies from released detainees who reported that he was subjected to humiliation and abuse," he said. "He was reportedly forced to strip."
International Community Calls for Release
The World Health Organisation led by its chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has called for the "immediate release" of the hospital director. Rights group Amnesty International has echoed the call, saying Abu Safiyeh had been the "voice of Gaza’s decimated health sector". Healthcare professionals across the world have also urged for his release, rallying on social media under the hashtag #FreeDrHussamAbuSafiya.
UN Report Reveals Catastrophic Effect on Healthcare
On Tuesday, a UN report revealed that Israeli strikes on and near hospitals in Gaza have led to the near total collapse of the healthcare system in the Palestinian territory of 2.4 million people. "Israel’s pattern of deadly attacks on and near hospitals in Gaza, and associated combat, pushed the healthcare system to the brink of total collapse, with catastrophic effect on Palestinians’ access to health and medical care," the UN human rights office said in a statement.
Conclusion
The situation in Gaza is dire, and the international community must take action to pressure Israel for Abu Safiyeh’s release and to address the catastrophic effect on the healthcare system. The world must not stand idly by as innocent lives are lost and the healthcare system is destroyed.
FAQs
Q: What is the current situation in Gaza?
A: The situation in Gaza is dire, with ongoing Israeli bombardment and the healthcare system on the brink of collapse.
Q: What happened to Hossam Abu Safiyeh?
A: Abu Safiyeh, the head of Kamal Adwan Hospital, was arrested by Israeli forces during a raid on the hospital and his whereabouts are currently unknown.
Q: What is the international community doing to address the situation?
A: The World Health Organisation, Amnesty International, and healthcare professionals across the world have called for Abu Safiyeh’s release and are urging the international community to take action to address the catastrophic effect on the healthcare system in Gaza.