Gaza: Israeli forces order Jabalia evacuation, shoot at people fleeing

The director of northern Gaza’s Kamal Adwan Hospital has issued an urgent international plea after Israeli forces ordered staff and patients, including those wounded, to leave the medical facility within the next 24 hours late on Tuesday.

In a video statement released online, Dr Hossam Abu Safiya said the Israeli army has threatened to turn the Kamal Adwan facility into "another Al-Shifa", the Gaza City hospital that was sieged and struck during Israel’s war on the Palestinian territory, which has been ongoing for over a year and has killed over 42,000.

"The occupation seeks to put the health system out of service to displace the residents of northern Gaza," the hospital's management said.

The Israeli army has also issued similar warnings to the Indonesian and Al-Awda hospitals, as Gaza's health system continues to collapse amid the war.

The evacuation orders were slammed by Hamas, calling it "a criminal attempt to implement the [Israeli] government’s displacement plans" in the territory.

The orders come as parts of northern Gaza, particularly the Jabalia camp, have been witnessing an intensified Israeli military operation in recent days, where Palestinians have been forced to leave.

Witnesses on Wednesday said bodies covered the streets across the camp as Israeli forces prevented medical teams from reaching the area.

Israeli forces have been opening fire at anyone attempting to leave, witnesses and local outlets added.

The Palestinian Red Crescent said: "Soldiers are firing at anyone who moves in the Be’er al-Na’ja area, west of Jabalia in northern Gaza", as they struggle to assist evacuees due to the ongoing offensive in the area.

Around 400,000 Palestinians from northern Gaza are being made to flee in the war-hit territory's south, which has been long suffering from overcrowding, the spread of disease and a lack of basic necessities due to Israel's war and siege.

At least 20 people in Gaza have been killed since Wednesday morning, including a family who has now been wiped from Gaza's civil registry.

Nine members of the Farhat family were killed in an air strike on the Shujaiya neighbourhood in Gaza City, while strikes killed others in the Nuseirat, al-Bureij and Jabalia camps.

Meanwhile, in the West Bank, the Israeli army killed a Palestinian man in the village of Aqabah near Tubas late on Tuesday, in its latest military raid on the occupied territory.

The victim was identified as 37-year-old Abdul Raouf Rajih Hamed Al-Masry, who was killed after his home was besieged by the Israeli army.

 The Palestinian Red Crescent said that its crews received a report of an injury inside the besieged house.

Al-Masry’s home was reportedly shelled by an ENERGA anti-tank rifle grenade after clashes broke out between Al-Qassam Brigades fighters and the Israeli army.

Israel forces have detained over 25 Palestinians in the last 24 hours, including a journalist, across several governorates.