Title: Thousands trapped in Gaza hospital amid Israeli bombardment
Israel’s military has surrounded and attacked Gaza’s largest hospital, al-Shifa Hospital, where thousands of injured and displaced people are trapped. The hospital, Israel claims, is a Hamas command center, but both the hospital staff and the armed group have denied these allegations. The escalating bombardment has led to a dire situation where medical supplies and food are running low, and ambulances are unable to enter or leave the facility.
Israeli forces have closed in on the hospital, preventing ambulances from reaching the injured and targeting anyone moving outside the hospital. The director of al-Shifa Hospital described the area as a “battlefield”, but pledged to stay with patients until the “last moment”.
The situation has led to condemnation from international organizations, with the director general of the Palestine Red Crescent Society condemning Israel for attacking hospitals at the UN Security Council. The World Health Organization (WHO) chief also expressed extreme concern about the safety of patients, health workers, and those sheltering in hospitals, calling for their immediate protection.
The escalating violence has led to half of Gaza’s 36 hospitals being non-functional and two-thirds of its primary care facilities out of commission. The death toll from Israeli attacks on Gaza since the start of the Israel-Hamas war has reached 11,078 Palestinians, according to Palestinian health officials, while Israeli officials report that more than 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were killed by Hamas in their attacks on Israel.