Israel escalates assault on Gaza, targets largest hospital
Gaza's largest operational hospital, Nasser Hospital, found itself besieged on Friday amid Israel's conflict with the Islamist group Hamas. As Israeli warplanes targeted Rafah, the enclave's final refuge for Palestinians, patients and medical staff faced dire conditions.
Israeli forces confirmed their intrusion into the medical complex, igniting concerns for the safety of hundreds of patients, medical personnel, and displaced Palestinians sheltering there.
Israel's military described the raid as "precise and limited," alleging it acted on intelligence that Hamas militants were using the hospital to hide and possibly detain hostages. The Gaza Health Ministry reported on Friday that power outages at the hospital led to the deaths of five intensive care patients due to the halt in oxygen supply.
The World Health Organization (WHO) announced efforts to access Nasser Hospital following the raid. "Critically injured and sick patients are still inside the hospital," WHO spokesperson Tarik Jasarevic stated, emphasizing the urgent need for fuel to continue life-saving services.
The Israeli military detained over 20 Palestinians in the raid, accusing them of involvement in the Oct. 7 attack and seized ammunition and weapons within the hospital premises. The Gaza Health Ministry noted that the fear of an imminent Israeli raid prompted many of the 10,000 people sheltering at the hospital to leave earlier in the week.
The conflict, initiated by Iran-backed Hamas' incursion into Israel, has led to the deaths of 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and the seizure of 253 hostages, according to Israeli reports. Gaza has faced extensive devastation, with Palestinian health authorities citing 28,775 casualties, predominantly civilians, and mass displacement.
Amid Israel's extensive bombardment targeting various structures, there's heightened concern for the humanitarian crisis, especially in Rafah, where a significant portion of Gaza's population seeks refuge. An Israeli airstrike in Rafah killed 10 people and wounded several others.
The situation inside Nasser Hospital has deteriorated, with electricity cut off and reports of women and children being forced into a militarized maternity department. The humanitarian crisis in Gaza risks worsening, particularly if Israeli forces target Rafah for a major offensive.
Rida Sobh mourned the loss of her family in a Rafah airstrike, highlighting the pervasive danger across Gaza. "Rafah is not safe. Everywhere in the Gaza Strip is a target," she lamented, underscoring the absence of security in the region.
