Israeli Airstrikes Devastate Gaza: Al-Shifa Hospital Under Siege, Death Toll Rises
Israeli Airstrikes Devastate Gaza: Al-Shifa Hospital Under Siege, Death Toll Rises
Al-shifa hospital in Gaza City on November 10
Israeli airstrikes in Gaza have claimed the lives of over a dozen people and wreaked havoc on Al-Shifa Hospital's cardiac ward, according to Gaza officials, marking the 37th consecutive day of intense conflict in the besieged region.
A reported 13 people lost their lives in an Israeli airstrike on a home in Khan Younis on Sunday. The day prior, a UN compound in Gaza City, serving as a shelter for hundreds, faced a strike that resulted in "several people" killed and wounded, as stated by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
The relentless strikes coincide with heightened Israeli offensive actions near Gaza's primary hospital, Al-Shifa. Health officials report that thousands of medics, patients, and displaced individuals are trapped within, grappling with power outages and depleting supplies. Israeli forces allege that Hamas uses the hospital as a cover for a command center, a claim Hamas denies without substantiation.
Al-Shifa Hospital, now surrounded, witnessed intense fighting throughout Saturday night. One airstrike reportedly obliterated the hospital's cardiac ward, causing power cuts that affected incubators in the neonatal unit, resulting in the deaths of two babies. A man also died when his ventilator lost power.
Amidst the chaos, the Israeli military pledged assistance in evacuating babies from Al-Shifa, responding to a request from the hospital staff. However, Al-Shifa, among the 16 operational hospitals in Gaza, is inaccessible for new casualties, leaving critical medical services unavailable.
Since October 7, Israel has conducted a devastating bombing campaign and ground incursion in Gaza, resulting in over 11,000 Palestinian casualties, including more than a third being children, as reported by Gaza officials. The UNRWA indicates that at least 100 of its employees have perished in the conflict.
The Israeli campaign has displaced around 1.6 million Palestinians, constituting over 70% of Gaza's population, and caused extensive damage to infrastructure. Displaced Palestinians endure dire conditions in overcrowded outdoor camps, facing urgent needs for food, water, and medicine. Humanitarian aid, though permitted on a limited scale, falls significantly short of the substantial requirements.
In response to the conflict, Hamas launched a surprise attack on October 7, resulting in over 1,200 Israeli casualties and approximately 240 hostages, according to Israeli officials. The situation remains critical, with international calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities and urgent humanitarian assistance to alleviate the suffering of the affected population.
