A Case Study in Hamas' Weaponization of Hospitals
When a Place of Healing Becomes a Hub for Terror: The Dark Transformation of Gaza’s Kamal Adwan Hospital
The Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza, which falls under the Hamas-run Interior Ministry’s General Directorate of Military Medical Services, stands as a grim testament to Hamas’ exploitation of civilian infrastructure. On December 28, 2024, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) launched a targeted operation at the hospital, uncovering weapons, terror funds, and intelligence documents while apprehending over 200 Hamas operatives. This operation underscored the extent to which Hamas embeds itself within sensitive civilian spaces, transforming a sanctuary for healing into a hub for terror operations.
Ensuring Civilian Safety Amid Combat
Before entering the hospital, the IDF facilitated the evacuation of civilians, ensuring patients and medical staff could leave safely. During the evacuation, some terrorists attempted to flee by blending in with civilians but were apprehended. Forty operatives were caught trying to escape, while another 20 were killed in combat around the hospital. The remaining terrorists—over 70—were detained inside the facility.
Moreover, the IDF arrested the director of Kamal Adwan Hospital, Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, on suspicion of involvement with Hamas.
Despite the high-stakes nature of the raid, the IDF ensured essential hospital systems remained operational. With support from the Gaza Coordination and Liaison Administration, an additional generator was activated to maintain the oxygen supply for patients. These precautions highlight the IDF’s efforts to balance operational necessity with civilian safety.
Evidence of Exploitation
The raid confirmed years of allegations about Hamas’ use of Kamal Adwan Hospital. Weapons caches, intelligence documents, and terror funds were discovered on-site. In a past IDF counter-terror operation from October 2024, a detained ambulance driver revealed that Hamas had stationed fighters throughout the hospital grounds, including courtyards, building gates, and offices. The same driver admitted that Hamas exploited Gazan ambulances to transport fighters rather than serve civilian medical needs.
The driver’s testimony reflects widespread frustration among Gaza’s civilian population. “We, the public in the northern Gaza Strip, are sick of this situation,” he said. “They are stationed in the hospitals, stationed in the schools. We have had enough.”
A Hijacked Healthcare System
In a report from May 2024, a Kurdish volunteer at Kamal Adwan Hospital and Al Awda Hospital, Dr. Baram, described them as place under Hamas’ firm grip, with hospital resources, staff, and infrastructure being redirected to serve the group’s interests. He revealed that Hamas maintained a “VIP” section within one hospital, exclusively serving individuals with connections to the group, often at the expense of ordinary patients. This prioritization left many critically ill or injured civilians without access to essential care.
In one chilling instance, Baram recounted how a wounded man affiliated with a Salafi religious movement was denied oxygen and intensive care simply because he was not favored by Hamas. Despite Baram’s insistence, hospital employees tried to block his attempts to save the patient, arguing that the intensive care section was reserved for Hamas VIPs. Baram eventually placed the patient in the section over objections, a decision that epitomizes the moral dilemmas faced by medical professionals in a system controlled by a militant group.
This was not the first instance of Hamas operatives using the hospital; in December 2023, over 70 terrorists were discovered hiding there. The recurring use of hospitals as cover highlights how deeply entrenched this strategy is in Hamas’ operations.
The Cost of Exploitation
The Kamal Adwan Hospital operation revealed the grim extent of Hamas’ misuse of civilian infrastructure. While the IDF took measures to protect civilians and maintain hospital operations, the humanitarian toll of Hamas’ actions remains profound. By embedding its fighters within hospitals, Hamas not only violates international norms but also exacerbates the suffering of Gaza’s already vulnerable population.
As long as such exploitation persists, Gaza’s civilians will continue to pay the price of being trapped between the necessities of war and the machinations of those who claim to represent their interests.