Urgent Statement from ActionAid on the Forced Evacuation of Hospitals in Northern Gaza

We are gravely alarmed by the latest directive from the Israeli Army, which, according to Gaza’s Ministry of Health, orders the full evacuation of Awda, Indonesian, and Kamal Adwan hospitals in northern Gaza. This impacts all patients, medical staff, critically ill individuals in intensive care, pregnant women, and newborns in incubators.

The Al-Awda Hospital, one of ActionAid’s valued partners, is a vital healthcare facility serving the most vulnerable in Gaza, and one of the only remaining hospitals providing maternity services across the Strip. Forcing its evacuation under such perilous conditions is not only unconscionable but also a violation of international humanitarian law.

At the same press conference, it was reported that Kamal Adwan Hospital is currently under siege, with certain buildings under fire. One paramedic was even detained while accompanying an evacuated patient, despite coordination efforts. These incidents mark a dangerous escalation and place further lives at risk.

This is the latest in a series of continuous attacks on healthcare workers and facilities across Palestine and Lebanon. Medical professionals, who risk their lives daily to provide essential care are being deliberately targeted, exacerbating an already dire humanitarian crisis. These attacks are a direct assault on the right to health and safety of civilians.

ActionAid urgently calls for the immediate cessation of these actions and for the protection of all medical facilities, healthcare workers, and civilians. The international community must intervene now, ensuring that healthcare systems are protected and that humanitarian aid can be delivered to those in desperate need.

We stand in solidarity with the people of Gaza, healthcare workers and with our partner, Al-Awda Hospital, demanding immediate action to prevent further loss of life and uphold the fundamental right to healthcare in times of conflict.