Saudi Arabia condemns Israel’s burning of Gaza hospital

Civil Defense members put out a fire in a broadcast van following an Israeli strike that killed five journalists of Al-Quds Al-Youm television channel, the day before Israel burned parts of Kamal Adwan Hospital. (Reuters)

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia on Friday denounced the burning of a Gaza hospital by Israeli forces and the forced removal of patients and medical staff from the facility.

Hospital officials said that Israeli troops raided Kamal Adwan Hospital on Friday, gathered staff outside the facility, removed their clothes, and took them to an unknown location.

Israeli soldiers then set fire to several parts of the facility, which is one of the last operating in the northernmost part of the Gaza Strip, including the surgery department, according to the Palestinian health ministry in the enclave.

The actions constitute a violation of international law, international humanitarian law, and the most fundamental humanitarian and ethical norms, said a statement by the Saudi foreign ministry.

Israel claimed Hamas fighters had been operating in the facility, which hospital officials denied.