Israeli military vehicles have reportedly advanced towards the Al-Shifa hospital complex in Gaza, according to Gazan health officials. The situation inside the hospital is becoming increasingly dire, with shortages of fuel, medicine, and food for the hundreds of patients and thousands of people seeking refuge there. Due to the lack of electricity and fuel, numerous corpses are decomposing at the hospital, as there is no way to preserve or remove them. Premature babies are also at risk, as doctors struggle to keep them warm after removing them from unusable incubators. The power cut at Al-Shifa has led to at least 12 deaths, according to the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights. Three nurses at the hospital were also killed on Monday, as confirmed by the top U.N. aid official for the Palestinian territories.
The Israeli military has not directly addressed questions about their actions concerning the hospital, but stated that they are engaged in intense battles against Hamas and that the hospital itself is not a target. Israeli officials claim that Hamas uses hospitals, including Al-Shifa, as shields for their fighters, including utilizing tunnel networks beneath the hospitals. Hamas denies these allegations. The Israeli military claims to have delivered fuel to the hospital, but it remains untouched due to threats from Hamas. However, hospital staff state that the fuel was left half a kilometer away from the hospital in a combat zone, and there are concerns about the safety of retrieving it.
Israeli military vehicles have reportedly reached the gate of the Al-Shifa complex where the maternity hospital is located. Additionally, Israeli troops have reached other hospitals in northern Gaza as they intensify their push to evacuate these facilities. The health ministry of Gaza, which is part of the Hamas-run government, describes Al-Shifa as being in the “circle of death.” The hospital staff is struggling to remove decomposing bodies from the hospital and coordinate with the Red Cross for assistance, but they have not received a response. More than 100 bodies are lying in the hospital’s front yard, and staff and displaced individuals at the hospital are suffering from thirst and hunger.
Dr. Nasser Bolbol, the head of Al-Shifa’s neonatal unit, claims that three premature babies died after an Israeli attack disabled the equipment providing oxygen to the department. The remaining premature babies were moved to another department that still has oxygen, but lacks the necessary incubators. The staff has resorted to using sheets of reflective foil and blankets to simulate warmth for the babies. The neonatal unit also has a limited supply of baby formula, and negotiations are underway with Israeli authorities to evacuate the babies. However, no agreement has been reached yet.
The hospital has been constantly shaken by shelling and strikes, making it dangerous for medical staff to leave the building and remove corpses. People who have tried to leave the hospital to find food and water have reportedly come under fire, with some being killed. The situation is described as catastrophic, with patients dying and medical staff unable to provide help. The Israeli military has not responded to accusations of firing on people trying to leave the hospital but has denied such claims in recent days.