Fire Shuts Down Last Operational ICU in North Gaza After 'Targeted' Attack by Israeli Forces: Report

Intense gunfire launched by Israeli forces in a "targeted" attack sparked a fire that shut down the last operational intensive care unit in North Gaza Tuesday night into Wednesday.

"They clearly targeted the ICU. We barely managed to evacuate the patients from there as fire spread," Dr. Hussam Abu Safiyeh, the director of Kamal Adwan Hospital, said in a video shared to X by Al Jazeera English.

Abu Safiyeh said he and others smothered the fire using blankets and water meant for patients since they do not have firp; extinguishers.

"We've been struggling for the past eight days with no water in the facility after our water tanks, water systems and oxygen supplies were all targeted and destroyed. The situation is catastrophic and our ICU can no longer provide any services," he continued.

Up to 75,000 Palestinians are seeking refuge in North Gaza, and at least 2,500 of them have been killed in the past two months, per Middle East Eye.

Abu Safiya told The National they were treating Palestinians injured after Israel Defense Forces (IDF) struck a home near the hospital, killing up to 10, when the IDF then closed in on them.

"We've been sending our pleas to the world for the past 75 days, that healthcare systems and staff should be protected. But unfortunately, we are being targeted indiscriminately like all homes in North Gaza," the hospital director added.

Last month, the ICU's Director Dr. Ahmed al-Kahlout was killed by an Israeli drone.