Israeli forces besiege two additional Gaza hospitals as reported by Palestinian Red Crescent
Reports from the Palestinian Red Crescent Society indicate that Israeli forces have encircled two more hospitals in Gaza, amidst escalating shelling and gunfire activities.
The Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) reported that Israeli forces have encircled two additional hospitals in the Gaza Strip. They described the situation as having intense shelling and heavy gunfire.
Despite international pressure on Israel and ongoing negotiations for a ceasefire and hostage agreement, the conflict in Gaza continues to escalate with fighting still raging after several months.
The PRCS reported on Sunday that Al-Amal Hospital and Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza were surrounded. This has put all our teams in serious danger and they are unable to move freely. Additionally, they are unable to bury the body of our colleague Amir Abu Aisha in the hospital courtyard.
CNN has contacted hospital officials for further information and has also reached out to the Israel Defense Forces for a response. It should be noted that both hospitals were previously surrounded by Israeli forces for extended periods earlier this year.
As of now, the Israeli military continues to be present at Al-Shifa hospital, which is the largest hospital in Gaza. They had conducted a raid on the hospital earlier this week.
IDF soldiers caught around 480 terrorists linked to Hamas and Islamic Jihad, and found weapons and terrorist facilities in the hospital, as reported by the IDF on Sunday.
A picture shows damage inside Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis last month.
A picture shows damage inside Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis last month.
AFP/Getty Images
The IDF reported the death of one soldier in a battle in northern Gaza, making the total number of soldiers killed during the ground operation reach 252.
According to the Gaza Ministry of Health, at least 32,226 people in Gaza have lost their lives since the attacks on October 7, with nearly 75,000 others sustaining injuries.
In January, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced that the most intensive phase of operations in northern Gaza was complete. However, in recent weeks, the IDF has returned to the area around Al-Shifa as Hamas seems to have increased its presence and activities there.
On Monday, the IDF initiated a new operation at Al Shifa after stating that "senior Hamas terrorists" were using the facility. The Ministry of Health in Gaza reported that around 3,000 people were seeking shelter, with those trying to leave being targeted by snipers and helicopter fire.
Hamas claimed that Israel has been hitting targets without considering the patients or medical staff present, a statement supported by witnesses at the site.
Throughout the conflict, hospitals have been at the center of the fighting. Israel has alleged that medical facilities in Gaza have been hiding Hamas fighters and weapons, a claim that doctors and the militant group have refuted.
Smoke billowing after Israeli bombardment in the vicinity of the Al-Shifa hospital on Saturday.
Smoke billowing after Israeli bombardment in the vicinity of the Al-Shifa hospital on Saturday.
AFP/Getty Images
UN Secretary General António Guterres, meanwhile warned that “horror and starvation” was stalking Gaza, calling for a ceasefire and the immediate release of hostages.
During his visit to the Egyptian border, Guterres criticized the mounting of relief trucks there, calling it "a moral outrage." He urged Israel to allow "total, unfettered access for humanitarian goods throughout Gaza."
Israel reacted angrily to his remarks, with Foreign Minister Israel Katz accusing the UN of becoming "an antisemitic and anti-Israeli body" under Guterres' leadership. Katz claimed that the UN now shelters and emboldens terror.
Katz criticized Guterres for focusing on Israel's actions without addressing Hamas terrorists who disrupt humanitarian aid, UNRWA's cooperation with terrorists, and the need to release Israeli hostages.
Israel and the UN have strained relations, with the UN criticizing Israel's Gaza campaign and Israel accusing some UN staff of involvement in attacks on October 7.
Editor's P/S:
The ongoing conflict in Gaza continues to take a devastating toll on its people, with hospitals becoming a focal point of the fighting. The encirclement of two additional hospitals by Israeli forces has put medical staff and patients in grave danger, limiting their ability to provide and receive essential care. The situation is particularly alarming given the already dire conditions in Gaza, where hospitals have been struggling to cope with the influx of casualties.
The international community has expressed concern over the escalating violence and called for a ceasefire. However, negotiations for a ceasefire and hostage agreement have yet to yield results, and the fighting continues unabated. The United Nations has warned that "horror and starvation" are stalking Gaza and has urged Israel to allow unfettered access for humanitarian goods. However, Israel has reacted angrily to this criticism, accusing the UN of being anti-Israeli and antisemitic. The strained relations between Israel and the UN further complicate efforts to resolve the conflict and provide assistance to those in need. The international community must condemn these actions and demand an immediate ceasefire to prevent further loss of life and suffering.
