GAZA: Israeli forces besieged two more Gaza hospitals on Sunday, trapping medical teams under heavy gunfire, the Palestinian Red Crescent said, and Israel said it had captured 480 Palestinian resistance fighters in continued clashes at Gaza’s main Al Shifa hospital.
The Palestinian Red Crescent reported that one of its staff members was killed as Israeli tanks unexpectedly re-entered areas surrounding Al-Amal and Nasser hospitals in Khan Younis, situated in the southern part of Gaza. Amidst relentless Israeli bombardment and gunfire, Israeli armored forces sealed off Al-Amal Hospital and conducted extensive bulldozing operations nearby, leaving medical teams in grave danger and completely immobilized.
Furthermore, Israeli forces demanded the complete evacuation of staff, patients, and displaced Palestinians from Al Amal Hospital’s premises, resorting to firing smoke bombs into the area to coerce compliance.
In response, the Israeli military asserted that its actions targeted “infrastructure” in Khan Younis allegedly used as gathering points for Palestinian resistance fighters. However, Hamas denied the allegations of using hospitals for military purposes and accused Israel of committing war crimes against Palestinian civilians.
Israeli Forces Detain Patients and Medical Staffers
The health ministry in Gaza reported the detention of dozens of patients and medical staffers by Israeli forces at Al Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, which has been under Israeli control for a week. Al Shifa, one of the few operational healthcare facilities in north Gaza, has been accommodating a significant portion of the enclave’s displaced population.
Reports from Khan Younis residents indicated Israeli tank advancements in a western neighborhood near Nasser Hospital, amidst heavy aerial and ground fire cover.
Meanwhile, in Rafah, Gaza’s southernmost town near the Egyptian border, an Israeli airstrike on a house killed seven Palestinian civilians, as per health officials’ statements.
Since October 7, Israel’s air and ground offensive into Gaza has resulted in the killing of at least 32,226 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and 74,518 injuries, with 84 casualties reported in the past 24 hours alone, according to Gaza’s health ministry.
Efforts for a Gaza ceasefire, prisoner releases, and unrestricted aid delivery have thus far proved unsuccessful, despite mediation by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States. Hamas insists on an Israeli commitment to halt bombardment and withdraw forces from Gaza as part of any truce deal, a condition rejected by Israel. Israel vowed to continue its offensive until seizing control of the entire Gaza Strip.
