Health facility closure in Gaza can lead to 'tragic results,' ICRC warns amid recent evacuation orders

By Beyza Binnur Donmez

GENEVA (AA) - The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) warned Wednesday that each health facility closure in Gaza means fewer options for much-needed care and eventually could lead to "tragic results."

Remarks by Jason Straziuso, ICRC global media team leader, came after the European Gaza Hospital (EGH) -- one of the largest referral hospitals in the south -- in Khan Yunis became "unable to function" following the evacuation orders by Israel.

"We moved 19 patients and 10 ICRC medical staff from the EGH to the ICRC Field Hospital in Rafah-Mawasi to continue providing them the needed healthcare," Straziuso told Anadolu.

Stressing that healthcare facilities in Gaza have come under "heavy pressure in recent months," he said: "Each time a medical facility is forced to close operations, it means that people in medical need in Gaza have fewer options for care."

"This can lead to tragic results," he warned.

On Tuesday, the ICRC voiced its intention to evacuate its medical team and patients from the EGH and move them to its field hospital in southern Al-Mawasi in response to Israel's evacuation orders.

Although the evacuation order did not include the hospital, due to the close proximity to the must-evacuated area, patients and medical teams decided to self-evacuate as since Oct. 7, the evacuation orders have been followed by military operations by Israel.

"Once conditions allow, staff will return to EGH and continue to work there," the ICRC said.

It noted that thousands of people, including patients, families, and medical professionals, learned of the evacuation instructions late in the day and "fled in panic and fear."

The ICRC stressed that "the hospital is now unable to continue functioning effectively because so many staff members have evacuated, including medical, nursing, administration, and support staff."

The World Health Organization chief on Tuesday said that all 320 patients and all the medical personnel have evacuated from EGH and three trucks containing medical equipment from the hospital have been moved as well.

A majority of patients have been referred to Nasser Medical Complex, which is now at full capacity with more than 350 inpatients, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on X.

Flouting a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate cease-fire, Israel has faced international condemnation amid its continued brutal offensive on Gaza since an Oct. 7, 2023 attack by the Palestinian group Hamas.

More than 37,900 Palestinians have since been killed, mostly women and children, and around 87,141 others injured, according to local health authorities.

Over eight months into the Israeli war, vast tracts of Gaza lie in ruins amid a crippling blockade of food, clean water, and medicine.

Israel stands accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice, whose latest ruling ordered it to immediately halt its military operation in Rafah, where over a million Palestinians had sought refuge from the war before it was invaded on May 6.