### Critical Hospital in North Gaza Governorate Forced to Evacuate by Israeli Military

The last hospital operating in the North Gaza governorate has ceased operations following an urgent evacuation order from the Israeli military. Dr. Mohammed Salha, the director of the al-Awda hospital in Jabalia, confirmed that patients were moved from the facility on Thursday evening, marking a grim milestone in the ongoing conflict.

Dr. Salha expressed profound distress over the forced evacuation after enduring a two-week siege. "We are feeling really bad about this forced evacuation," he told the BBC, lamenting that there is now "no health facility working in the north."

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have yet to provide a public comment, though the BBC has reached out to them for a statement. According to Dr. Salha, the hospital had come under significant threat from Israeli occupation forces. "They threatened us that if we didn't evacuate, they would enter and kill whoever is inside, or they would bomb the hospital," he said in a voice message to the BBC. Faced with this dire ultimatum, the hospital decided to prioritize the safety of its patients and staff.

The hospital experienced heavy bombardment and shooting from tanks starting around noon local time on Thursday. Dr. Salha received a call to evacuate at about 13:00 but initially resisted due to the critical condition of some patients. After seven hours of intense negotiations, the evacuation was completed by 20:30, with staff carrying patients over 300 meters to waiting ambulances due to ruined roads.

Videos shared with the BBC depict personnel in vests marked with the hospital’s name boarding ambulances and other vehicles, preparing for departure as night fell. The World Health Organization (WHO) noted that the hospital’s medical equipment could not be moved "due to impassable roads."

The UN humanitarian agency OCHA reported that ongoing hostilities had not only damaged the hospital but also disrupted access, causing widespread panic that deterred people from seeking medical care. Patients from al-Awda hospital were transported to al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City.

Dr. Salha mentioned plans to provide services through a primary health center in Gaza City and possibly establish another center in a shelter. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO’s director-general, emphasized the critical impact of the hospital's shutdown, calling it "a critical lifeline" for people in the region. He urged for the protection of hospitals and the safety of medical staff and patients, reinforcing that healthcare facilities should never be attacked or militarized.

On Thursday evening, IDF spokesperson Avichay Adraee confirmed on social media that evacuations were ordered for several areas, including Al-Atatra and Jabalia Al-Balad. He cited ongoing terrorist activities in these regions as the reason for expanding offensive operations, warning that these areas would now be considered "dangerous combat" zones.

Despite being inside a previously announced evacuation zone, al-Awda hospital had continued to operate. A coalition of 18 charities reported that the hospital faced its fourth military besiegement since October 2023 and had been struck at least 28 times, with significant damage to its emergency room, desalination plant, and storage unit.

The IDF stated last week that it was "operating in the area against terror targets" and was "not aware of any siege on the hospital itself." As bombardments on Gaza persist, the conflict continues to restrict the movement of most Palestinians. The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza reported at least 72 fatalities in the last 24 hours.

Following a nearly three-month blockade, Israel recently allowed limited aid into Gaza, including essential supplies such as food, medicine, and fuel. However, the dire situation for healthcare in North Gaza remains acute, with many primary healthcare centers only partially functional. The crisis exemplifies the severe humanitarian impact of the continued hostilities in the region.