Gaza Strip: Thousands of Palestinians caught up in fighting around Al Shifa hospital

Thousands of Palestinians waited on Monday to leave Al Shifa hospital, the city’s largest. Gaza stripwithout water or electricity for days and in the midst of fighting between Hamas militiamen and Israeli army troops.

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On Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu mentioned in an interview with the North American network NBC a possible agreement for the release of some of the almost 240 hostages held by the Palestinian Islamic group Hamas, without giving further details.

“The less I speak out about the issue, the more I increase the chances of it coming to fruition,” he said. Netanyahu.

Approaching the fifth week of war, triggered by a bloody attack by Hamas on Israeli soil on October 7, which left around 1,200 dead – most of them civilians – bombings continued in the Gaza Strip that have already killed 11,180 people, including 4,609 children, according to the Ministry of Health of that territory.

LOOK HERE | Gaza: At least 27 adults and 7 babies died in Al Shifa hospital due to lack of electricity, says Hamas

The fighting is concentrated in the heart of Gaza City, in the north of that territory, especially around some hospitals that the Israeli army suspects are used to hide strategic infrastructures. Hamas.

According to the UN, 1.5 of the 2.4 million Palestinians have been forced to leave their homes since the start of the war, following the total siege imposed by Israel on October 9, which deprives that population of water, medicine, food and electricity.

-Hospitals “out of service” -In addition, the situation at Al Shifa hospital in Gaza City It remains complicated according to Mohammed Zaqout, director of hospitals in that territory.

MORE INFORMATION | Netanyahu weighs possible deal with Hamas to release hostages kidnapped on October 7

Patients “are on the street without care” after the “forced evacuations” of two pediatric hospitals, Al Nasr and Al Rantissi, he explained.

Al-Qudsanother hospital in the city stopped working on Sunday due to a lack of fuel and electricity, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent.

The Israeli army “ordered us to leave Al Quds hospital this morning”, Islam Chamallah told AFP on Sunday, after walking a dozen kilometers on foot with his daughter, her husband and three other children in his arms.

According to the United Nations Office for Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), 20 of the 36 hospitals in the Gaza strip They are “out of order” due to lack of supplies.

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The Israeli army claimed to have “guaranteed” the passage of civilians from some health establishments, including the hospital in Al-Shifawhere 15 thousand people are crowded, according to data from Hamas and the UN Humanitarian Aid Coordination Office.

But “the (Israeli) tanks completely surround the Al Chifa hospital,” Yusef Abu Rish, deputy health minister of the Gaza Strip, told AFP, adding that “650 patients, around forty children in incubators, all in danger of death ”. are in the hospital.

In a message in ”.

READ HERE | Bombing of UN complex in Gaza leaves a “significant number” of victims

“The constant shootings and bombings in the surrounding areas are worsening already difficult circumstances,” he added.

“The world cannot remain silent when hospitals, which should be havens of peace, become scenes of death, devastation and despair. Stop the fire now,” she added.

– “Maximum containment” –

The EU condemned Hamas for using “hospitals and civilians as human shields” while urging Israel to use “maximum containment” to protect civilians.

Israel promised to “annihilate” Hamas after the bloody attack on its territory.

The international community fears an extension of the conflict to Lebanon, where exchanges of fire on the common border intensified on Sunday, and even beyond the region, with the participation of pro-Iran militias, Israel’s number one enemy and fundamental support from Hamas.

CHECK OUT HERE | WHO warns that it has lost communication with Al Shifa hospital, the largest in Gaza

Ten people were injured in Israel by an anti-tank missile that landed in the north of the country, aid services said, while the Israeli army says it responded by attacking in southern Lebanon, where it operates. Hezbollahally of Iran.

While Israeli planes attacked “terrorist infrastructures” in Syria on Sunday, after firing from that territory towards the Golan region.

– Exodus to the south – Displaced people fleeing fighting in the north of Range They can no longer find places to take refuge and some are forced to sleep on the streets, according to AFP journalists.

READ ALSO | Hospital situation in Gaza worsens and Hamas accuses Israel of “organized crimes”

A dozen houses were destroyed in another attack in Bani Suheila, leaving at least four dead and 30 injured.

The war triggered worldwide commemorations for the dead and kidnapped Israelis, as well as pro-Palestinian marches to denounce the situation in Israel. Link and call for a ceasefire.

Several civilians were injured in Israel by an anti-tank missile that landed near the village of Dovev, 800 meters from the border with Israel. Lebanon.

Source: Elcomercio

jack

I am Jack Morton and I work in 24 News Recorder. I mostly cover world news and I have also authored 24 news recorder. I find this work highly interesting and it allows me to keep up with current events happening around the world.