The al-Shifa, largest hospital in Gaza has its front doors sealed off by Israel’s soldiers. In the midst of intense Israeli shelling, thousands of wounded and displaced civilians are stranded.
By the beginning of Saturday morning, the al-Shifa Hospital was completely surrounded by Israeli soldiers. There is a shortage of medicine and food at the center, and they blocked ambulances from getting in or out.
The biggest hospital center in the Gaza Strip is being attacked and its front doors destroyed. Reporters allege that throughout that time, numerous Palestinians and patients continue staying in the hospital’s courtyard. “Those people are really trapped right now by Israeli forces who are stationed in different sectors encircling the entire place. They are no longer able to move ambulances to bring victims and wounded people from the areas targeted. People are trapped and they lack food.”
The administrator of Al-Shifa dubbed the region surrounding the hospital a “battlefield.” Muhammad Abu Salmiya claimed that employees at the hospital have promised to remain with patients until the very last minute. Abu Salmiya informed the journalists, “we will not leave because we know if we leave the hospital, dozens of patients will die.”
The Israeli attack on the same Hospital shortly after sunrise yesterday resulted in at least 13 fatalities and several injuries, according to the Gazan Health Ministry. This led to the intensifying bombardment. Later yesterday, health authorities reported that a minimum of four hospitals in northern Gaza were under attack from Israeli tanks coming from all sides.
The chief executive of the Palestine Red Crescent Society, Marwan Jilani, denounced Israeli leaders for striking hospitals before the UNSC in New York later in the same day as conflict intensified during the night.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the head of the World Health Organization expressed similar worries, describing the circumstances at the al-Shifa Hospital as “extremely disturbed.”
In a post on on X, he explained that “many of the thousands sheltering at the hospital are forced to evacuate due to security risks, while many still remain there.” Both Hamas leaders and the al-Shifa personnel have refuted Israel’s assertion that Hamas uses the hospital as a command center.
Gaza health officials report that since two days ago, at least five bombs have fallen in the vicinity of al-Shifa. Al-Nasr Medical Center, al-Quds Hospital, and al-Rantisi Hospital have also been targeted by Israeli troops.
The World Health Organization has verified that due to conflict, over 50% of hospitals and medical centers in Gaza, totaling 20, are closed and a majority of its primary medical centers are closed.
