Jordanian field hospitals in Gaza take on role of sanctuary for Palestinians

Doctors treat patients at a Jordanian military field hospital in the besieged Gaza Strip. (Supplied)
Short Url
Updated 25 December 2023
Follow

Jordanian field hospitals in Gaza take on role of sanctuary for Palestinians

  • One 40-bed facility, located in Tel Al-Hawa in northern Gaza, has become a symbol of safety
  • The medical institutions are operated under the efficient management of the Jordanian army

AMMAN: Jordanian military field hospitals in the besieged Gaza Strip stand as the primary, and often the “only,” fully functional medical facilities in this war-torn area.

They have transcended their medical roles, evolving into sanctuaries for Gazans who seek refuge amid the relentless Israeli bombardment of their territory.

In the Gaza Strip, Jordan has established two pivotal field hospitals. The first was inaugurated in 2009, in the aftermath of the Israel-Hamas conflict in 2008. The second facility was set up more recently in Khan Younis, which is the second-largest city in Gaza, with its establishment dated back to Nov. 29.




Doctors treat patients at a Jordanian military field hospital in the besieged Gaza Strip. (Supplied)

These vital medical institutions are operated under the efficient management of the Jordanian army, following direct instructions from King Abdullah of Jordan.

The Jordanian military has demonstrated a strong commitment to these hospitals. According to official reports, the Jordanian air force has undertaken six significant airdrop operations.

These airdrops have been crucial in delivering medical aid to the hospitals in Gaza, utilizing parachutes for efficient and safe delivery. The most recent airdrop, which took place on Dec. 14, saw the participation of Princess Salma, the daughter of King Abdullah.




Doctors treat patients at a Jordanian military field hospital in the besieged Gaza Strip. (Supplied)

Princess Salma holds a distinguished position as a first lieutenant/pilot in the Royal Jordanian Air Force.

A concerning incident was reported on Nov 16. Seven members of the medical staff at the field hospital in Gaza sustained injuries. This unfortunate event occurred at the entrance of the emergency department, highlighting the perilous conditions under which these medical professionals work.  

One field hospital, located in Tel Al-Hawa in northern Gaza, known as “Gaza/76,” is a 40-bed facility that finds itself in a location that has been subject to heavy bombardment by Israeli fighter jets.




An injured child arrives at a Jordanian military field hospital in the besieged Gaza Strip. (Supplied)

Tragically, the medical staff of this hospital experienced injuries while they were engaged in the noble act of providing medical aid to Palestinians who had been wounded during an air strike.

An anonymous army source, in a conversation with Arab News, shed light on the operational status of the two Jordanian hospitals in Gaza.

The source emphasized that these hospitals are not just functional but are “operating 24/7 at full capacity.” They are also performing complex surgical procedures on a daily basis, a testament to their crucial role in the region.  

The source further revealed that these hospitals are not merely medical centers but have become sanctuaries for many Palestinian families. These families, especially those in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, are seeking refuge at the Jordanian hospitals, seeing them as safe spaces in a landscape marred by conflict.




Doctors treat patients at a Jordanian military field hospital in the besieged Gaza Strip. (Supplied)

  After the end of a brief one-week truce in Gaza on Dec. 1, Israel has expanded its military operations, particularly in the southern part of the enclave. This escalation has led to a surge in the number of displaced Palestinians. Hundreds of thousands are reported to have sought shelter in facilities run by the United Nations, and in other areas in the southern towns.

“The hospital in the northern part of Gaza has become a symbol of safety,” the army source said.

“Displaced Palestinians are seeking protection not just inside the hospital but also around its vicinity, particularly at the entrance. They perceive it as a safe zone, free from the threat of Israeli strikes.”

The compassionate staff of the hospital are not just providing medical care but are also sharing essential supplies like food and water with the displaced Palestinians.




Doctors treat patients at a Jordanian military field hospital in the besieged Gaza Strip. (Supplied)

Some of these displaced individuals have chosen to stay at the hospital, even after a majority of the population from the intensively bombarded northern Gaza moved south.

As for the situation at the “Special Field Hospital 2” in Khan Younis, the source noted an increasing influx of displaced Palestinians. This increase is attributed to the fact that more supplies are reaching this newly established hospital. Additionally, its location in southern Gaza makes it more accessible to the displaced population, who are now predominantly located in the south.

The Jordanian Armed Forces (JAF) made a significant announcement recently. They reported that a large convoy, consisting of 15 trucks loaded with essential supplies, medical equipment, and 2,000 units of various blood types, arrived at the Khan Younis hospital on a Thursday evening.

This delivery plays a crucial role in supporting the hospital’s surgical operations and overall medical capabilities.

JAF also confirmed that the hospital received an additional 2,000 units of blood, crucial for the numerous surgical procedures they undertake.

UN estimates paint a stark picture of the displacement crisis in Gaza. Of the 2.4 million population in Gaza, an overwhelming 1.9 million people are displaced, with the majority located in Khan Younis and other southern towns. 

Between Nov. 29 and Dec. 21, the hospital in Khan Younis has been a beacon of hope, receiving 15474 cases and successfully performing 4473 surgeries, as reported in a JAF statement.

The army highlighted the multifaceted role of the Khan Younis hospital. While it primarily functions as a surgical center, it also opens its doors to emergency cases, including those resulting from the war.

“The hospital in Khan Younis is a round-the-clock facility, always ready to welcome anyone seeking medical attention. It caters to a wide array of medical needs, from complex surgeries and injury treatments to addressing more minor illnesses, such as the flu,” the source added.


Explosive drone intercepted near Irbil airport in northern Iraq, security statement says

Updated 7 sec ago
Follow

Explosive drone intercepted near Irbil airport in northern Iraq, security statement says

The “Flight operations at the airport continued normally,” the Irbil airport authority said

IRBIL, Iraq: An explosive drone was shot down near Irbil airport in northern Iraq on Thursday, the Iraqi Kurdistan’s counter-terrorism service said in a statement.

There were no casualties reported, according to two security sources.

The “Flight operations at the airport continued normally and the airport was not affected by any damage,” the Irbil airport authority said in a statement.

The incident only caused a temporary delay in the landing of one aircraft, the statement added.

Jordanian and Vatican officials discuss promotion of Petra as destination for Christian pilgrims

Updated 27 min 8 sec ago
Follow

Jordanian and Vatican officials discuss promotion of Petra as destination for Christian pilgrims

  • They say there is a strategic opportunity to integrate the UNESCO World Heritage Site into routes for Christian travelers
  • Head of tourism authority says highlighting Petra’s significance to Christian heritage itineraries could enhance Jordan’s position on global religious tourism map

LONDON: Officials from Jordan and the Vatican met on Thursday to discuss ways in which they can cooperate to advance religious tourism, including the promotion of the ancient city of Petra as a destination for Christian pilgrims.

Fares Braizat, who chairs the board of commissioners of the Petra Development and Tourism Regional Authority, said that highlighting the significance of the UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of Christian heritage itineraries could enhance Jordan’s position on the global religious tourism map.

The country has a number of important Christian sites, the most significant of which is the location on the eastern bank of the Jordan River where Jesus is said to have been baptized by John the Baptist. Several popes have visited it, including Francis and John Paul II.

Archbishop Giovanni Pietro Dal Toso, the Vatican’s ambassador to Jordan, confirmed the interest in collaborating with Jordanian authorities, and praised the nation’s stability and its rich historical and religious heritage.

Both officials acknowledged the strategic opportunity that exists to integrate Petra into pilgrimage routes for Christian travelers, the Jordan News Agency reported.

The Petra tourism authority recently lit up the Colosseum in Rome with the signature colors of the historic Jordanian site to celebrate a twinning agreement as part of a marketing strategy to attract European visitors, and to raise Petra’s profile globally as a premier cultural and spiritual tourism destination.

The Vatican itself is also a major tourism destination, for Christian pilgrims in particular. In 2025 it is expected to welcome between 30 and 35 million visitors during its latest Jubilee Year, a significant ecclesiastical event that takes place every 25 years.


Last lifelines in Gaza are being cut, UN chief warns

Updated 03 July 2025
Follow

Last lifelines in Gaza are being cut, UN chief warns

  • Secretary-General Antonio Guterres again raises alarm over increasingly dire humanitarian crisis as restrictions on aid mount and civilians run out of safe places to shelter
  • He expresses grave concern over series of attacks in recent days that hit locations in which Palestinians were seeking shelter or trying to obtain food

NEW YORK CITY: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday said he was “appalled” by the escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza, condemned recent deadly strikes against displaced people, and warned that the enclave is on the brink of total collapse as fuel supplies run out.

He expressed grave concern over a series of attacks in recent days that hit locations in which Palestinians sought shelter or were trying to access food.

Guterres’ spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric, read a statement that said: “Multiple attacks (have) killed and injured scores of Palestinians. The secretary-general strongly condemns the loss of civilian life.”

Civilians in Gaza are running out of safe areas in which to shelter as Israeli evacuation orders continue to expand, Dujarric added as he warned of a dire humanitarian crisis amid mounting restrictions on the delivery of aid and rising casualties among relief workers.

Israeli authorities issued a new displacement order on Thursday targeting parts of Gaza City, citing as a reason rocket fire from Palestinian groups. It affected an estimated 40,000 people, including those living in a displacement site, a medical facility, and a neighborhood previously spared evacuation orders since a temporary ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas ended in March.

“As of earlier today, about 900 families are estimated to have fled,” Dujarric said, adding that approximately 78 percent of the Gaza Strip has now been affected by the cumulative effects of more than 50 such orders. When combined with the effects on areas designated as Israeli militarized zones, the figure rises to 85 percent, leaving just 15 percent of the territory available for civilians to live.

“Those areas are, of course, overcrowded,” Dujarric said. “They also severely lack basic services or proper infrastructure.”

He described the remaining habitable zones as fragmented and unsafe, and compared the humanitarian conditions there to having more than 2 million crammed into Manhattan but

“instead of buildings, the area is strewn with the rubble of demolished and burnt-out structures without any infrastructure or basic support.”

The UN Population Fund has reported that an estimated 700,000 women and girls in Gaza are experiencing “a nightmare” situation as a result of lack of access to menstrual hygiene products, water and privacy. It said it has nearly 170 truckloads of supplies ready for delivery but they remain blocked from entering Gaza.

Meanwhile, the UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said that nine more aid workers from five organizations have died in Gaza since last Thursday, bringing the death toll among aid personnel to 107 in 2025, and 479 since the war began in October 2023; 326 members of UN staff are among the dead.

OCHA also highlighted the significant obstacles humanitarian operations faced in June. Out of nearly 400 attempts to coordinate with Israeli authorities, 44 percent were denied, and 10 percent were initially approved but later obstructed. Only a third of the missions were fully facilitated, while 12 percent were canceled due to logistical or security issues.

Four out of 16 humanitarian coordination efforts were denied on Thursday alone, Dujarric said, hindering efforts to relocate medical supplies and clear debris.

“The space left for civilians to stay is shrinking by the day,” he added.

In his statement, Guterres underscored the fact that international humanitarian law is “unambiguous” in its requirement for civilians to be protected and their basic needs met.

He warned that the continuing blockade on fuel deliveries, now entering an 18th week, threatens to bring remaining humanitarian operations to a halt.

“Without an urgent influx of fuel, incubators will shut down, ambulances will be unable to reach the injured and sick, and water cannot be purified,” he said, adding that the UN and its partners might soon be unable to deliver even the limited amount of aid that remains in Gaza.

Guterres repeated his call for “full, safe and sustained humanitarian access,” and said the UN has a ready, proven plan to deliver aid “safely and at scale” to civilians across the territory.

He also renewed his appeal for an “immediate, permanent ceasefire” and the “immediate and unconditional release of all hostages,” and stressed that all parties involved in the conflict must uphold their obligations under international law.


UAE president, king of Bahrain discuss ties in Abu Dhabi

Updated 03 July 2025
Follow

UAE president, king of Bahrain discuss ties in Abu Dhabi

  • Several Emirati and Bahraini officials attended the meeting
  • Leaders explored ways to strengthen Abu Dhabi-Manama ties in support of shared interests

LONDON: UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan visited King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa of Bahrain at his residence in Abu Dhabi on Thursday to discuss relations between the two countries.

The two leaders discussed cooperation between Manama and Abu Dhabi, exploring ways to strengthen their ties in support of shared interests and aspirations for continued progress, development and prosperity, the Emirates News Agency reported.

Several UAE officials attended the meeting, including Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, deputy chairman of the Presidential Court for Development and Martyrs Families affairs, and Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, deputy chairman of the Presidential Court for Special Affairs.

The Bahraini side included Lt. Gen. Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Al-Khalifa, the national security adviser, Royal Guard commander and secretary general of the Supreme Defense Council of Bahrain, and Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad Al-Khalifa, the first deputy chairman of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports and president of the General Sports Authority of Bahrain.


Wildfires kill two in western Turkiye, little-known group claims arson attacks

Updated 03 July 2025
Follow

Wildfires kill two in western Turkiye, little-known group claims arson attacks

  • The latest casualty was a backhoe operator, Ibrahim Demir, who died while battling the flames in the Odemis district
  • A group calling itself “Children of Fire” claimed responsibility

ISTANBUL: A wildfire killed a second person in Türkiye’s western Izmir province on Tuesday as blazes raged for a seventh day across several regions, while a little-known group claiming ties to Kurdish militants said it was behind dozens of arson attacks.

The latest casualty was a backhoe operator, Ibrahim Demir, who died while battling the flames in the Odemis district, the state-run Anadolu news agency said.

Earlier, an 81-year-old bedridden man who was home alone in the same area died when fire reached his house, marking the first death since the fires began.

A group calling itself “Children of Fire” claimed responsibility for “tens of fires across six Turkish cities”, according to a statement shared online.

The group, which is little known, says it is affiliated with the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), designated a terrorist group by Türkiye, the United States and European Union. The PKK, which said in May that it was ending a 40-year insurgency and disbanding, has not commented on the claim.

Firefighters continued to battle flames with helicopters and planes dropping water over mountainous terrain in Izmir, while authorities closed some roads to the Aegean resort town of Cesme, Anadolu said.

Broadcasters showed footage of flames lining the main highway as water tankers arrived.

Türkiye, Greece and other countries in the Mediterranean are in an area scientists dub “a wildfire hotspot” — with blazes common during hot and dry summers. These have become more destructive in recent years due to a fast-changing climate.

Wildfires across Türkiye’s west have damaged around 200 homes and victims have been provided alternative accommodation, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said. Some 50,000 people were temporarily evacuated earlier this week from areas of fires fueled by high temperatures, low humidity and strong winds.

New fires also broke out on Thursday in the southern resort province of Antalya and in forested areas near Istanbul, Türkiye’s largest city, Anadolu said. Authorities have managed to contain several of the blazes.