Israeli forces launched a raid on the primary hospital in southern Gaza on Thursday, shortly after their fire resulted in the death of one patient and the injury of six others within the facility. According to the Israeli army, this operation was conducted with the objective of retrieving the remains of individuals held captive by Hamas.
The army launched the raid the day after it attempted to evacuate thousands of displaced individuals who had sought refuge at the Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis. Khan Younis, the main target of Israel’s offensive against Hamas in recent weeks, has been heavily impacted by the ongoing conflict.
The military claimed to have received credible intelligence suggesting that Hamas had taken hostages at the hospital and that the remains of these hostages might still be present inside. Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, the chief military spokesperson, emphasized that the operation being carried out at the hospital was both precise and limited, with no intention of forcibly evacuating medical staff or patients. Israel alleges that Hamas exploits hospitals and other civilian structures as shields for its fighters.
According to Ashraf al-Qidra, the spokesperson for Gaza’s Health Ministry, Israel conducted a major offensive in which heavy gunfire injured numerous displaced individuals seeking shelter. Al-Qidra further stated that the military instructed medical personnel to transfer all patients to an older facility that lacked the necessary equipment for proper treatment.
In an interview with the Al Jazeera network, he highlighted that there are certain individuals who are unable to evacuate due to their specific circumstances. This includes people with lower limb amputations, severe burns, and the elderly.
Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon claimed the lives of 10 civilians, primarily women and children, as well as three fighters from Hezbollah, a Lebanese militant group allied with Gaza’s Hamas militants. This unfortunate incident occurred shortly after an Israeli soldier was killed by a rocket attack from Lebanon, marking the most lethal exchange of fire along the border since the Gaza war began on October 7. These events serve as a stark reminder of the potential escalation and wider conflict that looms.
Negotiations for a cease-fire in Gaza seem to have hit a roadblock, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu affirming his commitment to carrying out the offensive until Hamas is eliminated and the hostages taken during the Oct. 7 attack, which triggered the conflict, are safely returned.
Scenes of panic in a hospital ward
Nasser Hospital, located in the southern city of Khan Younis, has become the recent center of attention due to ongoing operations that have severely affected Gaza’s already fragile healthcare system. The hospital is facing immense challenges as it strives to provide medical assistance to the numerous patients who have been injured in the daily bombardments.
According to Dr. Khaled Alserr, one of the remaining surgeons at Nasser Hospital, the seven patients who were hit early Thursday were already undergoing treatment for previous injuries. He also mentioned that a doctor had been lightly wounded the day before when a drone attacked the upper floors of the hospital.
He expressed deep concern about the rapidly escalating situation, emphasizing that it was intensifying with each passing hour and minute.
The Israeli military announced on Wednesday that it has established a safe passage for displaced individuals to exit the hospital. However, doctors and patients will be allowed to stay. Numerous videos shared online depict a large number of people leaving the facility on foot, carrying their belongings on their shoulders.
Last month, the military issued an evacuation order for Nasser Hospital and the neighboring areas. However, patients at the hospital and thousands of displaced individuals from other conflict zones found it impossible to leave or find another safe location. Palestinians state that nowhere in the besieged territory is secure, as Israel persists in conducting strikes throughout the region.
According to Lisa Macheiner, a representative from the aid organization Doctors Without Borders, individuals have been placed in an extremely challenging predicament. This statement emphasizes the difficult circumstances faced by people, highlighting the perspective of those on the ground.
Facing the choice between defying the Israeli military and remaining at Nasser Hospital, risking becoming a target, or leaving the compound and entering a world of constant bombings and evacuation orders, the situation becomes truly apocalyptic.
No end in sight to the monthslong war
The war commenced on October 7th, as Hamas militants managed to breach Israel’s strong defenses and launched a brutal attack on various communities, resulting in the loss of around 1,200 lives. Additionally, they took 250 individuals hostage. It is worth noting that, during a temporary ceasefire in the previous year, over 100 hostages were released in exchange for 240 Palestinian prisoners.
Approximately 130 captives are still in Gaza, with an estimated quarter of them presumed deceased. Netanyahu faces immense pressure from both the families of the hostages and the general public to negotiate their release. However, he risks his government being undermined by his far-right coalition partners if he is perceived as being too lenient towards Hamas.
In response to the attack on October 7, Israel initiated a military campaign that has been described as one of the deadliest and most destructive in recent history. The impact of this campaign has been devastating, with over 28,000 Palestinians losing their lives and 80% of the population forced to leave their homes. The dire situation has led to a quarter of the population experiencing starvation, exacerbating an already severe humanitarian crisis. The offensive primarily targeted northern Gaza, resulting in the complete destruction of large areas in that region.
Hamas persists in launching attacks against Israeli forces throughout Gaza and has made it clear that it will only release the remaining captives once Israel ceases its offensive and withdraws. Furthermore, Hamas is demanding the release of numerous Palestinian prisoners, including prominent militants.
Netanyahu has dismissed these demands as “delusional” and has stated that Israel will soon escalate its offensive by targeting Rafah, the southernmost city of Gaza that lies on the Egyptian border. In an attempt to escape the ongoing conflict in other parts of the coastal enclave, more than half of Gaza’s population, which amounts to 2.3 million people, has sought refuge in Rafah.
According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, the war has claimed the lives of at least 28,576 Palestinians, with the majority being women and children. The ministry does not differentiate between civilians and combatants in its casualty count. Additionally, over 68,000 individuals have been injured as a result of the conflict.
In northern Israel, a rocket attack caused the death of a female soldier and left eight people injured. The incident occurred when one of the projectiles hit a military base in the town of Safed on Wednesday. In response, Israel conducted airstrikes in southern Lebanon, resulting in the fatalities of three Hezbollah fighters and 10 civilians. Among the casualties were six women and three children.
Israel and Hezbollah have been engaging in frequent exchanges of fire along the border since the beginning of the conflict in Gaza. It is worth noting that Hezbollah has not taken responsibility for the rocket attack that occurred on Wednesday.
