The destruction of hospitals in northern Gaza by Israeli forces is part of an "ethnic cleansing" effort targeting Palestinians, said the Israeli daily Haaretz.

In a recent editorial, Haaretz criticized these actions as a deliberate attempt to depopulate northern Gaza and prevent displaced Palestinians from returning to their homes.

The editorial emphasized that the systematic demolition of hospitals not only undermines access to essential healthcare but also forces residents to relocate to the south of Gaza.

The article pointed out that depriving such a large population of medical facilities during an active conflict violates international norms, specifically the Fourth Geneva Convention, which provides special protection to hospitals in times of war.

Haaretz challenged the Israeli military's justification for its assaults, arguing that the alleged presence of weapons or armed individuals in medical facilities does not legitimize their destruction.

The newspaper described the devastation in northern Gaza as part of an illegal campaign, stressing that hospitals must be excluded from such military actions.

The editorial also denounced Israel's claims of finding weapons in hospitals as insufficient to justify the humiliation and suffering inflicted on medical staff and patients.

It highlighted reports of individuals, including vulnerable patients, being forcibly evacuated from hospitals in undignified conditions.

Kamal Adwan Hospital, the largest medical facility in northern Gaza, was singled out as an example. Serving over 400,000 residents before the conflict, the hospital was surrounded by Israeli forces, its staff and patients evacuated, and parts of the building set ablaze during the raid.

The broader context of the editorial linked these events to ongoing allegations of war crimes. Since the October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas, Israel has reportedly caused the deaths of over 45,500 people in Gaza and left the region in ruins.