GENEVA: The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, voiced grave concern on Monday following Israeli forces launched an operation at Gaza’s largest hospital, Al-Shifa. Tedros took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to express his alarm, emphasizing the perilous situation unfolding at the medical facility.
“We are terribly worried about the situation at Al-Shifa Hospital in northern Gaza,” Tedros wrote. He underscored the critical importance of preserving the hospital’s function as a provider of essential health services, cautioning that any hostilities or militarization of the facility could jeopardize the well-being of health workers, patients, and civilians alike.
Israeli forces stormed Gaza’s al-Shifa Hospital in a pre-dawn operation, alleging that it has been used by the Palestinian resistance group Hamas to command attacks against Israel. The hospital, a crucial medical facility in the region, witnessed chaotic scenes as Israeli forces stormed the compound leaving thousands of Palestinian civilians trapped in the medical facility.
People sheltering in the hospital said Israeli forces backed by tanks and artillery had surrounded the medical complex and that snipers were shooting at people inside. They said the army raided a number of buildings and detained dozens of people.
Casualties Feared in Israeli Attack on Gaza’s Al-Shifa Hospital
According to reports from Gaza’s Ministry of Health, the raid resulted in a number of casualties and injuries among Palestinians. Witnesses reported that the hospital’s surgical building was engulfed in flames following Israeli bombings, exacerbating the already dire situation.
Gaza’s Health Ministry said the Israeli army was directing gun and missile fire at a building used for specialized surgeries. It said a fire broke out at the hospital’s gate. The ministry said around 30,000 people are sheltering at the hospital, including patients, medical staff and people who have fled their homes seeking safety.
The Health Ministry in Gaza reported receiving distress calls from the area surrounding the hospital, indicating numerous casualties unable to reach medical assistance due to the intensity of gunfire and artillery shelling.
Meanwhile, a UN-backed food security assessment said Monday that half of Gaza residents are experiencing “catastrophic” hunger, with famine projected to hit the Palestinian territory’s north by May unless urgent action is taken.
Beth Bechdol, the deputy director-general of the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), described the situation as “unprecedented,” emphasizing that around 1.1 million people in Gaza are experiencing “catastrophic food insecurity” due to the ongoing Israeli bombardment campaign.
The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) partnership, responsible for monitoring hunger levels, highlighted the severity of the crisis, with hunger ratings reaching the highest level on their scale. The situation in the north of Gaza was identified as particularly dire, with aid agencies struggling to access the area for food distribution.
Looming Famine in Northern Gaza
According to the IPC report, famine is imminent in the northern governorates, with projections indicating that it could occur anytime between mid-March and May 2024. The report emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating that waiting for a retrospective famine classification before taking action is indefensible.
Despite efforts to deliver aid by air or sea, UN agencies stress that these methods cannot adequately substitute land deliveries, which remain impeded by ongoing hostilities.
The IPC report outlined that famine is likely to occur under the most probable scenario, assuming an escalation of the conflict, including a ground offensive in Rafah, and continued obstacles to humanitarian aid delivery.
