Tensions as Israeli forces raid Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza

Israeli military actions intensify in Gaza, surrounding the largest medical facility and affecting civilians; international leaders call for immediate ceasefire

Muslim Network TV Desk

GAZA CITY, Palestine – In a significant escalation of the ongoing conflict in Gaza, Israeli forces have conducted a raid on al-Shifa Hospital, the largest medical complex in the Strip, which currently shelters thousands of displaced individuals.

Reports from inside the hospital indicate that over 200 Palestinians are being held in the facility’s yard by the Israeli forces.

Eyewitness accounts describe Israeli tanks encircling the hospital, with the sound of intense artillery fire reverberating in the background. This development has sparked grave concerns about the safety of the hospital’s occupants, which include patients, medical staff, and displaced civilians.

Mohammed Zaqout, Director-General of Gaza Hospitals, in a press conference in Khan Younis, stressed the urgency of the situation.

According to Zaqout, 650 patients, including 22 in critical condition in the ICU, 36 premature babies, and individuals on life support, face imminent danger.

The hospital’s predicament is further compounded by the presence of approximately 400 medical staff and 2,000 displaced individuals, all in need of safe evacuation.

Dr. Ahmed Mokhallalati, a doctor at al-Shifa, described the situation as increasingly dire, with Israeli tanks positioning themselves in strategic locations around the hospital. Meanwhile, Gaza’s media office has warned of a potential massacre following the storming of the hospital complex.

The Euro-Med Monitor has expressed alarm over the safety of two of its field team members, currently trapped near al-Shifa Hospital, unable to escape due to heavy Israeli gunfire.

The organization has held the Israeli military responsible for any harm that may befall its staff.

Concurrently, the situation elsewhere in Gaza remains bleak, with at least 27 fatalities and numerous injuries resulting from three major strikes today.

Two of these strikes targeted homes in the Khan Younis area, and the third impacted a residence in central Gaza.

Additionally, artillery shelling has been reported in various parts of southern Gaza, including an attack on the Salhi residential towers in the Nuseirat refugee camp, resulting in three deaths.

In a significant development, an Israeli airstrike in al-Qarara, north of Khan Younis, led to several casualties.

The strike also targeted flour silos in al-Qarara, crippling the region’s primary flour production facility, in addition to hitting al-Salam Mill in Deir el-Balah, the only operating wheat mill in the area.

Amidst these developments, telecommunications companies in Gaza have warned of an imminent halt in services due to fuel shortages.

Hamas has refuted allegations of using hospitals like al-Shifa as command centers, accusing Israel and the United States of attempting to justify what it terms as “brutal massacres.” Islamic Jihad has claimed responsibility for shooting down an Israeli drone, demonstrating the continued resistance from Palestinian armed groups.

Internationally, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan denounced Israel as a “terror state” committing war crimes in Gaza. Erdogan, defending Hamas as a legitimate political entity, has called for global recognition of Israeli settlers as terrorists amidst escalating violence in the West Bank.

Efforts for de-escalation are underway, with Qatari mediators seeking a deal between Hamas and Israel. The proposed deal, coordinated with the US, involves a three-day ceasefire in exchange for the release of around 50 civilian hostages from Gaza. Additionally, Israel is expected to free some Palestinian women and children from its prisons and increase humanitarian aid to Gaza.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, during his inauguration speech, demanded an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and urged Israel to adhere to international humanitarian law. Mahmoud Abbas, president of the Palestinian Authority, in a speech marking the 35th anniversary of the Palestinian declaration of independence, asserted that Palestine is the only homeland for Palestinians, rejecting any alternative and demanding an end to the occupation.

As the international community grapples with the complexities of the situation, the urgent need for a ceasefire and humanitarian intervention in Gaza becomes increasingly apparent. The evolving crisis at al-Shifa Hospital epitomizes the dire humanitarian situation unfolding in the region.