13 December 2024
Yesterday (12 December), the Israeli military issued a forced displacement order in Gaza City that impacts the MAP supported Patient’s Friends Benevolent Society Hospital (PFBS) and threatens to end advanced neo-natal care across the whole of northern Gaza. Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) condemns Israel’s latest attempt to systematically dismantle healthcare in the region even as hospital staff have so far said they will not leave their patients.
The forced displacement order covers parts of Al Remal and Sabra neighbourhoods in Gaza City, which affects approximately 20-25,000 people currently sheltering there. It also impacts MAP’s northern Gaza office which is based in the area. It is the sixth forced displacement order for this area since Israel began its war on Palestinians in October 2023.
The PFBS Hospital has been operating one of only two neonatal intensive care units (NICU) in northern Gaza, since Israeli military attacks forced the closure of Kamal Adwan Hospital’s NICU and attacked and detained staff there in October 2024.
This is the only NICU in northern Gaza that receives premature babies. It also operates the only paediatric intensive care unit in northern Gaza. There are currently seven children in the PFBS hospital’s paediatric department, including two in the paediatric ICU and one in the NICU. The lives of these children and babies would be put at immediate risk if the hospital was forced to evacuate.
Israeli military attacks are continuing in northern Gaza and on Thursday 12 December, Israeli forces shot and killed Dr Saeed Jouda, the last orthopaedic specialist in northern Gaza’s hospitals.
Mahmoud Shalabi, MAP’s Deputy Director in northern Gaza, said: “We strongly condemn yesterday’s forced displacement orders and call for the protection of all healthcare workers. Time and time again we have seen Gaza’s hospitals face Israeli military attacks and sieges despite being protected under international law. The PFBS is now one of the only operating hospitals left in northern Gaza, and like every other healthcare service is facing extreme shortages of resources, staffing and basics like food, fuel and water, putting patients’ lives at risk.”
Since August 2024, MAP has been supporting the PFBS Hospital with essential staffing and resources, and to restore and create new facilities after it was damaged by Israeli military attacks. MAP also helped establish a paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) in September, which provides life-saving care for premature infants. The hospital has seen the number of patients arriving at the hospital rise significantly, from 7,320 in July to 42,999 in October.
Since October 2023, the Israeli military has forced 1.9 million people – almost 90% of Gaza’s population – out of their homes through bombardment and forced displacement orders. As of 19 November, 79% of Gaza’s land was under Israel’s forced displacement orders.
On 21 November, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for two Israeli leaders, alleging responsibility for the war crime of starvation as a method of warfare and the crimes against humanity of murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts in Gaza.
An independent UN Commission of Inquiry has concluded that Israel is committing war crimes and the crime against humanity of extermination in Gaza. The UN recently warned that: “The entire population of North Gaza is now at risk of dying.”
The UK government cannot continue to be an ally to Israel’s atrocities and must take real action to protect Palestinian civilians including imposing an immediate arms embargo on Israel. The UK must also urgently work to ensure Palestinian healthcare workers and facilities are protected, and those responsible for serious violations of international law are held fully accountable.
Israel is exterminating Palestinian life in North Gaza. Take action now.
Photo: Healthcare workers at the Patient Friend's Benevolent Society Hospital's paediatric intensive care unit.
