What’s happening in northern Gaza?

Where is North Gaza? 

North Gaza is the northernmost governorate in the Strip, and includes towns such as Jabalia, Beit Lahia, and Beit Hanoun. The UN estimates that about 100,000 people remain this area, and the humanitarian situation is particularly dire, even compared to other parts of Gaza.  

Three MSF-supported hospitals are located in North Gaza: Kamal Adwan, Indonesian, and Al-Awda hospitals. All have been targeted by Israeli forces in recent weeks. 

What’s happening in northern Gaza right now?

Forced evacuations are causing further displacement

Forced evacuations of homes and the bombing of neighborhoods by Israeli forces are turning northern Gaza into uninhabitable ruins. On October 7, Israeli forces issued evacuation orders for Jabalia camp while carrying out attacks at the same time, preventing people from leaving the area safely.  

In a recent forced mass displacement, residents of the northern cities of Beit Hanoun, Jabalia, and Beit Lahia were urged to move to the overcrowded, so-called humanitarian zone further south between Al-Mawasi and Deir al-Balah, where 1 million people are already living in crowded, unhygienic, and inhumane conditions. This zone remains unsafe for civilians and aid workers as Israeli forces continue to repeatedly strike the area.

Israeli forces also called for the evacuation of the three main hospitals in northern Gaza: Indonesian, Kamal Adwan, and Al-Awda hospitals, despite the presence of patients unable to safely leave. 

Essential supplies are scarce or nonexistent

In the first two weeks of October, no humanitarian aid or food was allowed to enter the north, where essential items, including food, have long been in extremely low supply. The humanitarian situation in this region has been particularly dire since early in the war, as humanitarian access has been restricted along with the flow of basic needs, creating a high risk of starvation for the population. Electricity and telecommunications outages and blackouts have also been an issue, making it difficult for MSF to connect with and get updates from staff in the north.

Israeli forces are besieging and targeting hospitals

In recent weeks, Israeli forces have besieged and targeted the last remaining hospitals in northern Gaza--Indonesian, Al-Awda, and Kamal Adwan hospitals—with hundreds of patients and staff trapped inside, including pregnant women and people undergoing surgical operations. As of October 29, only two hospitals remain functional: Kamal Adwan and Al-Awda.  

"When hospitals are attacked, their infrastructure destroyed, and the electricity cut off, the lives of patients and medical staff are under threat,” said Anna Halford, MSF emergency coordinator in Gaza.

Is MSF working in northern Gaza?

Soon after the war escalated last year and MSF was forced to largely evacuate the north, some staff chose to stay behind provide medical services where they could.

We continue to provide care at our clinic in Gaza City, Gaza governorate, just south of North Gaza. The MSF clinic received 255 patients within just two days in early October, as options for people to access medical care shrink by the day. For some people, accessing the few existing health facilities is impossible; MSF teams have received reports of wounded people who have died as they were unable to seek medical care.

MSF has been trying to expand activities in the north of Gaza, but it has been impossible so far.

What is MSF calling for?

Hundreds of people in need of vital care must urgently be evacuated as their lives are in danger. Further, MSF calls on Israeli forces to halt forced displacements and to stop the all-out war on the people of Gaza. Israeli forces must also ensure the protection of civilians and hospitals and allow desperately needed humanitarian supplies to enter the north as a matter of extreme urgency. MSF continues to call for an immediate and sustained ceasefire in Gaza.