Israel acknowledges airstrike on ambulance allegedly causing multiple casualties
Numerous casualties reported near Gaza's Al-Shifa Hospital after an Israeli airstrike on an ambulance, as witnessed in multiple videos and confirmed by the Palestinian Ministry of Health The incident highlights the dire situation of besieged hospitals in the region
Israel has admitted to carrying out an assault on an ambulance near Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, the largest healthcare center in the region. Witnesses report that numerous individuals were killed and injured as a result.
According to the health authorities under Hamas control, at least 15 individuals lost their lives, while 50 others sustained injuries on Friday. Video footage from the location depicted several wounded individuals lying on the ground in close proximity to an ambulance, stained with blood. Additionally, there seems to be shrapnel damage on at least one of the vehicles present at the scene.
According to a statement from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), Israel targeted the ambulance because it was being utilized by Hamas. The IDF aircraft struck the ambulance, which was identified by forces as being used by a Hamas terrorist cell in close proximity to their position in the battle zone. The strike resulted in the deaths of several Hamas terrorist operatives. The statement also mentioned that there is evidence showing Hamas' tactic of using ambulances to transport terrorists and weapons.
A spokesperson for the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza, who was at Al-Shifa Hospital, said that Israel was responsible for the attack.
Israeli forces continue to bombard the Hamas-run Palestinian territory, causing over one million people to flee their homes in the Gaza Strip. This has resulted in scenes of chaos and despair, with Palestinian paramedics being seen crying outside Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City. Israel declared war on Hamas after waves of its fighters breached the heavily fortified border, resulting in the deaths of over 1,400 individuals. The photograph captures this grim situation, taken by Dawood Nemer and published by AFP/Getty Images.
Gaza's hospitals are struggling to cope with the influx of patients amidst the ongoing Israeli strikes and fuel shortages, leading to surgical procedures being conducted without proper medication. Dr. Ashraf Al-Qidra has confirmed that a medical convoy has been arranged by the authorities, who have also notified the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) regarding this urgent situation.
He alleged that the ambulances were deliberately targeted by the Israeli occupation as they moved towards the south, including at the entrance of the Al-Shifa medical compound.
The request from Gaza MoH to accompany the convoy evacuating the wounded from the northern part of Gaza was acknowledged by the ICRC, as confirmed to CNN. "We acknowledge having received the request from Gaza MoH to accompany the convoy evacuating the wounded from the northern part of Gaza," an ICRC spokesperson told CNN.
Besieged hospitals
Amidst the Israeli military's relentless assault on the 140-square-mile Gaza Strip, Al-Shifa Hospital has emerged as a prominent battleground. Israel recently alleged that this medical facility functions as a crucial Hamas command and control center, further intensifying the situation in one of the world's most densely populated regions.
Israel's government has dismissed calls for a ceasefire by Hamas, aid organizations, and the global community. They are determined to eliminate Hamas following their recent terror attack, which resulted in the deaths of over 1,400 Israelis, mostly civilians. Meanwhile, civilian casualties in Gaza have continued to increase as Israel targets residential neighborhoods, schools, and areas near hospitals. Since October 7, Israeli attacks have claimed the lives of more than 9,100 people in the Strip, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Ramallah, which obtained information from sources within the Hamas-controlled enclave.
Palestinian workers arrive through the Kerem Shalom crossing into southern Gaza on Friday, after Israel said it would expel Gazan laborers.
Mohammed Talatene/picture-alliance/dpa/AP
Israel expels Gazan workers back to war-torn enclave
Gaza's medical institutions are currently facing the overwhelming aftermath of the bombardment, resulting in a struggle to operate efficiently with limited supplies and fuel.
The medical staff at Al-Shifa hospital are extremely exhausted, and the scarcity of fuel has caused various wards to be plunged into darkness, disabling essential functions such as oxygen generation. According to Dr. Yousef Abu Al-Rish, the director of Gaza's hospitals, only the emergency department, the ICU, and one operating theater are able to continue functioning amidst this challenging situation. This information was conveyed in a video obtained by CNN.
Doctors at Al Shifa informed CNN that they have been encountering children with extensive burns on their bodies and faces, as well as amputations and other severe injuries. Dr. Tanya Haj-Hassan, a pediatric intensive care and humanitarian doctor from the aid organization Doctors Without Borders, also known as Médecins Sans Frontières, shared this information.
Furthermore, doctors are facing the challenge of providing treatment to patients with insufficient pain relief due to a scarcity of anesthetic drugs. Dr. Haj-Hassan stated to CNN, "We are experiencing shortages of antibiotics to treat wound infections and we have insufficient supplies of dressings."
