Gaza’s Nasser hospital has ceased functioning following an Israeli raid, according to the World Health Organization. Israel Defense Force (IDF) troops entered the complex after intelligence indicated hostages taken by Hamas were being held there. The WHO has not been allowed to enter the site to assess the situation.
WHO head Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the hospital is not functional after a week-long siege and ongoing raid. The IDF operation in Nasser is described as “precise and limited,” with accusations from the IDF claiming Hamas is using hospitals for terror.
WHO has reported that around 200 patients are still in the hospital, with at least 20 needing urgent referral to other hospitals for medical care; medical referral is every patient’s right. The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza has reported that only four medical staff are left in the hospital trying to care for the remaining patients.
The Israeli military said that they have taken diesel and oxygen supplies to the facility and that a temporary generator is operating. However, the BBC has not been able to verify the situation independently. The Israeli military has claimed that the hospital is being used as an operational base by Hamas, and they have killed about 20 Hamas fighters and seized numerous weapons in the area.
This latest conflict is part of an ongoing struggle between Israel and Hamas. In October of the previous year, attacks in Israel by Hamas-led gunmen led to a military campaign launched by Israel in the Gaza Strip. Since then, thousands of Palestinians, mostly women and children, have been killed or wounded in the war.
World leaders have been attempting to negotiate a ceasefire between the two parties, with US President Joe Biden sending negotiators. However, as of now, both sides are unable to come to an agreement. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced his government’s opposition to the “unilateral recognition” of Palestinian statehood and has stressed the need for direct negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians to reach any agreement.
The conflict in the region is ongoing, with no immediate resolution in sight. The situation remains tense, and civilians continue to suffer as the violence persists between Israel and Hamas.