Israel’s Siege on Gaza Hospitals Signals Deepening Humanitarian Crisis

Israeli forces have surrounded two of northern Gaza’s last operational hospitals, the Indonesian and al-Awda, pushing the region’s fragile health system to the brink, according to aid groups and the World Health Organization. The military’s latest operation, described as a new phase to pressure Hamas into releasing hostages, has sparked chaos, with evacuation orders issued for large swathes of northern Gaza. While the hospitals themselves weren’t directly ordered to evacuate, their proximity to the conflict zone has left staff and patients in dire straits.

Escalating Tensions and Hospital Strain
The Israeli military, led by the 401st and Givati Brigades, is targeting what it calls Hamas infrastructure, destroying buildings and eliminating dozens of fighters, per IDF statements. Yet, the fallout has hit civilians hardest. Drones have hovered over the Indonesian hospital since Sunday, with airstrikes reportedly damaging its generators, igniting fires, and cutting main power. A perimeter wall was bulldozed, and at least one staff member was killed, leaving those inside desperate for food and water.

At al-Awda hospital, drone strikes on Monday targeted the courtyard, paralyzing movement. Two ambulances were hit while transferring patients, with crews now pinned down inside. Roughly 47 patients, including 20 children and pregnant women, remain trapped alongside 140 medical staff. WHO’s Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned that these operations are “stretching the health system beyond the breaking point,” with nearby primary care centers also caught in the crossfire.

A Trickle of Aid Amid Blockades
Israel recently allowed limited food and medicine into Gaza after a 2.5-month blockade, but bureaucratic delays have stalled distribution, leaving millions in need. The U.N. is scrambling to relocate patients, but the ongoing conflict complicates efforts. Israel insists its forces are avoiding direct hospital assaults, allowing ambulances to move, but the reality on the ground tells a grimmer story.