The last working hospital in northern Gaza is no longer functional according to the World Health Organisation (WHO) – a day after staff reported Israeli troops had surrounded the site.
The WHO said Al-Awda Hospital went out of service on Thursday, and patients and health workers evacuated the same evening for fear of their safety.
It said that the hospital’s closure is “severing a critical lifeline for the people” in northern Gaza, and pleaded “for the hospital’s protection and staff and patients’ safety”.
Israeli authorities issued evacuation orders last week for large parts of northern Gaza ahead of offensives against Hamas, although the army did not order the hospital itself to evacuate.
Dr Rami al Ashrafi told the Associated Press on Thursday that Al-Awda Hospital had been encircled by Israeli troops and had come under fire in recent days.
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Gaza situation ‘worst since war began’ – UN
It comes as the United Nations said on Friday that the humanitarian situation in Gaza is the worst since the war between Israel and Hamas began in October 2023 – despite a resumption in aid deliveries.
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Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told reporters in New York that while “any aid that gets into the hands of people who need it is good,” the deliveries have so far had “very, very little impact”.
He added: “The catastrophic situation in Gaza is the worst since the war began.”
The UN and other international aid groups have refused to work with the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) – supported by Israel and the US – as they claim it is not neutral and forces the displacement of Palestinians by its distribution of aid.
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As of Friday, GHF said that it has managed to distribute more than 2.1 million meals. Israel’s UN ambassador Danny Danon said this week it would allow aid deliveries from both GHF and the UN’s operations.
Meanwhile, Hamas said it was still reviewing a US-proposed ceasefire a day after the White House said Israel accepted the offer.
US President Donald Trump said in Washington that both sides were “very close to an agreement on Gaza, and we’ll let you know about it during the day or maybe tomorrow”.
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The proposal reportedly calls for a 60-day pause in fighting, and the release of nine living hostages and half of the known hostages who have died, over the course of a week.
Israel and Hamas would then continue talks to bring the remaining hostages home, but Israel would retain the right to resume military action in Gaza if talks were to break down.
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According to Reuters, some 28 Israeli hostages – alive and dead – would be returned in the first week of the ceasefire, in exchange for 125 Palestinian prisoners sentenced for life and the remains of 180 dead.
The news agency added that the plan includes sending aid to Gaza as soon as Hamas agrees to its terms.
