It has been three days on Monday since the Gaza’s biggest hospital has shut down as it ran out of fuel. According to the Palestinian Health Ministry, 32 patients including three premature babies died so far. Hospital authorities are out of options to cater to the needs of the patients and are struggling to keep the newborns alive.
World Health Organisation (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus posted on social media saying Shifa has been without water for three days and is not functioning as a hospital anymore.
Though Hamas has refuted the Israeli claims that they are using hospitals as hideouts, President Isaac Herzog reiterated that Israel did not strike the hospital.
“Everything is operating,” at the hospital, Herzog told BBC. He also denied the aid agencies and doctor’s claim that the operations at the hospital was suspended.
“We deny this at all, there is a lot of spin by Hamas...but there's electricity in Shifa, everything is operating,” said Herzog.
Meanwhile, Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said the country conducted 4,300 strikes on Gaza Strip during military campaign against Hamas since October 7.
Israel also confirmed that they have struck “approximately 300 tunnel shafts and 3,000 terrorist infrastructure sites.”
An IDF statement said the troops are continuing its operations in the Gaza Strip. “IAF aircraft and ground forces have conducted 4,300 strikes, struck hundreds of anti-tank missile launch posts, approximately 300 tunnel shafts, approximately 3,000 terrorist infrastructure sites, including over 100 structures rigged with explosives, and hundreds of Hamas command and control centres," read the statement.
The Palestine Red Crescent Society has issued a statement on social media claiming that heavy gunfire continues nearby al-Quds hospital.
The UN's refugee mission in Palestine has reported that one of its building in Rafah has been struck by Israel's navy as well.
Reportedly, two major hospitals in northern Gaza were closed to new patients amid Israeli airstrikes and heavy fighting around both facilities, as medical staff were left without oxygen, medical supplies or fuel to power incubators.
EU called for immediate pauses in hostilities
The European Union nations have jointly condemned Hamas for “using hospitals” and “civilians as human shields” in its war against Israel.
EU nations in a statement called on for immediate pauses in hostilities and the establishments of humanitarian corridors, including through increased capacity at border crossings and through a dedicated maritime route, so that humanitarian aid can safely reach the Gazans.
Over 11,000 Palestinians, two-thirds of them women and minors, have been killed since the war began, according to the Health Ministry in Gaza. About 2,700 people have been reported missing since Israel-Hamas war.
About 2,50,000 Israelis have evacuated from communities near Gaza, where Palestinian militants are still firing barrages of rockets and along the northern border with Lebanon, where Hezbollah militant group has intensified its attacks.
