Gaza Hospital Under Siege as Israeli Strikes Decimate Other Healthcare Facilities
Israeli tanks surround Gaza hospital; strikes hit nearby healthcare facilities, putting patients and medical staff at increased risk in the besieged territory
According to the director of Al Nasr hospital and Al Rantisi Pediatric hospital in northern Gaza, Israeli tanks have blockaded the facility. Reports indicate that airstrikes have also targeted nearby healthcare facilities, raising concerns that Israel's military offensive is putting patients and medical personnel at greater risk in the besieged area. Mustafa al-Kahlout, the hospital director, has appealed for the Red Cross to help with an evacuation as they are unable to leave due to the tanks surrounding the hospital.
The hospital complex is situated near the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood and Al Shati camp, both areas where the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Hamas have engaged in ground fighting. Al-Kahlout expressed dire conditions at the hospital, highlighting the lack of electricity, oxygen, medicine, and water for the patients. Additionally, he expressed uncertainty regarding their future. This plea for help follows reports of strikes near two other hospitals in northern Gaza.
Al Awda hospital stated on Facebook that Israeli forces targeted the area surrounding Al Awda Hospital and the Indonesian Hospital, resulting in injuries to 10 staff members, damage to the hospital's infrastructure, and nine vehicles being affected. The statement also mentioned that two ambulances were completely destroyed.
A Palestinian child receives treatment at Nasser Medical hospital after a strike in Khan Younis, Gaza, on November 7.
According to an independent statement, the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) reported that one of their volunteers was injured and two ambulances became inoperable due to a strike near Al Awda hospital. The PRCS also provided visual evidence, including images and a video, showing two ambulances with shattered windscreens in what seems to be the hospital parking area. It remains uncertain if these are the same ambulances mentioned in the hospital's statement.
The IDF has refrained from commenting on the incidents, but has consistently urged civilians to relocate south of Wadi Gaza, a river dividing the central region of the Strip, as it escalates its offensive on Gaza City and the northern area of the territory. The IDF has alleged that Hamas is using civilian infrastructure for its operations and has vowed to target Hamas wherever it is deemed necessary.
Various videos on social media have depicted individuals wounded at what was identified as the outpatient clinic of al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City.
The cause of the hospital impact remains uncertain, but the footage depicts injured individuals lying on the outdoor clinic's floor. Witnesses captured in the videos claim that the area was struck. CNN has not been able to confirm the attacks and has contacted the IDF for further information.
Israel initiated its offensive in Gaza after the October 7 Hamas assaults, resulting in the deaths of 1,400 individuals in Israel. The Israeli military has intensified its campaign in northern Gaza in recent days, dividing the territory in two and focusing its ground operations and intense aerial bombardment primarily in the north.
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Israel is intensifying its offensive in Gaza City. Here's the latest information on the conflict.
However, the effect on healthcare establishments has sparked worries about the severe humanitarian conditions for those still residing in the northern part of Gaza. According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Ramallah, which gathers data from the Hamas-controlled region, a significant number of hospitals in Gaza, specifically 18 out of 35, have ceased operations as of Thursday.
Furthermore, the ministry reported that a staggering 71% of primary-care facilities have ceased operations either due to damage or fuel shortages. The remaining open hospitals are operating under limitations and are gradually closing down wards. Meanwhile, Volker Türk, the United Nations' top human rights official, expressed skepticism regarding Israel's unilateral creation of "safe zones" in Gaza. He emphasized that no area within the territory can be deemed safe for civilians.
According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Ramallah, the ongoing offensive has resulted in the death of over 10,700 Palestinians. A significant number of Palestinians, including women, children, and the elderly, are now moving towards the southern regions in an increasing exodus, utilizing the evacuation corridors that have been announced by the Israeli military. Reporting for CNN was provided by Zeena Saifi, Abeer Salman, and Lucas Lilieholm.
