Israeli troops are closing in on al-Shifa Hospital, where hundreds of medics, patients, and displaced people are trapped. The ongoing conflict in the besieged Gaza Strip has entered its 37th consecutive day, with Israeli air strikes claiming the lives of more than a dozen people and destroying the main hospital’s cardiac ward, according to Gaza officials.
In a recent attack, at least 13 people were killed in an Israeli air strike on a home in Khan Younis, as reported by Gaza officials on Sunday. The day before, several people were killed and wounded in a strike at a UN compound in Gaza City where hundreds had sought shelter, according to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The UNDP issued a statement condemning the loss of civilian lives and urging an end to the conflict.
Meanwhile, Israel continues to intensify its offensive near Gaza’s main hospital, al-Shifa. Health officials report that thousands of medics, patients, and displaced people are trapped inside the hospital with no electricity and dwindling supplies. Alleging that Hamas fighters are using the hospital as a command center, Israeli forces have repeatedly targeted al-Shifa, although Hamas denies these claims. However, Israel has not provided evidence to support its allegations.
Witnesses inside al-Shifa Hospital have described “violent fighting” raging around the hospital throughout Saturday night. Gaza officials confirm that one air strike destroyed the hospital’s cardiac ward, cutting off electricity to incubators in the neonatal unit where around 40 babies were being cared for, and shutting down ventilators for other patients requiring urgent care. Tragically, two babies died in the neonatal unit due to power depletion, and a man died when his ventilator was cut off, according to a statement from Doctors Without Borders surgeon Mohammed Obeid.
In response to the dire situation, the Israeli military has pledged to assist in the evacuation of babies from the hospital, as requested by the staff of al-Shifa Hospital. However, the hospital remains out of reach for newly wounded individuals, leaving them without access to essential medical care. Mohammad Qandil, a doctor at Nasser hospital in Khan Younis, has expressed concern about the situation, stating that al-Shifa Hospital is currently not functioning and unable to accommodate new patients.
Since October 7, Israel has conducted a devastating bombing campaign and ground incursion in Gaza, resulting in the death of at least 11,000 Palestinians, including over a third who were children, according to Gaza officials. The war has also caused the displacement of approximately 1.6 million Palestinians, representing over 70 percent of the enclave’s total population, and has caused extensive damage to infrastructure. Palestinians who have been forced from their homes now face dire conditions, residing in overcrowded outdoor camps and lacking access to basic necessities such as food, water, and medicine. Humanitarian workers emphasize that the limited aid reaching Gaza is insufficient compared to the overwhelming need.
Israeli officials claim that Hamas killed over 1,200 Israelis and took approximately 240 hostages during its surprise attack on October 7. However, it is important to note that the conflict has resulted in a significantly higher number of Palestinian casualties and widespread destruction in the Gaza Strip.
As the conflict continues, the international community must address the urgent humanitarian crisis in Gaza and work towards a sustainable solution that ensures the safety and well-being of all civilians caught in the crossfire.
