The Strip's second-largest hospital, located in the southern city of Khan Yunis, has taken refuge with many patients and other Palestinians.
Gaza's second-largest hospital is now crippled by ground and air attacks by Israeli forces.
The besieged enclave's Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Sunday that Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis in southern Gaza is no longer functional after weeks of siege and subsequent deadly attacks that intensified this week. announced that it was not.
“Currently, there are only four medical staff caring for patients” at the hospital, ministry spokesman Ashraf Al-Qudra told Reuters on Sunday.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a post on X that the organization's team has not been allowed by the Israeli military to enter the hospital since Friday to assess the condition and medical needs of critically ill patients. Deliver fuel.
“There are still about 200 patients in the hospital. At least 20 people need to be urgently referred to other hospitals for medical care. Physician referral is the right of every patient,” he said. “The price of delay will be paid with the lives of patients,” he added.
Nasser Hospital #Gaza After a week-long siege and subsequent continuous raids, it was no longer functional.
Yesterday and the day before yesterday, @who Despite this, the team was not allowed into the hospital to assess the patient's condition or critical medical needs…
— Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) February 18, 2024
In the past few days, Israeli forces have raided hospitals where displaced Palestinians are also sheltering. The Health Ministry announced on Saturday that Israeli forces had “arrested a number of directors and staff” at the hospital who were caring for the wounded.
The ministry said Friday that a UN-led aid team had been detained for seven hours and was unable to reach the hospital.
Meanwhile, Al-Amal Hospital, the only major medical facility still operating in Khan Yunis, continues to be a target of Israeli attacks. The Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) announced on Sunday that Israeli forces had shelled the third floor of the hospital.
Israeli forces moved further south into Rafah, on the border with Egypt, and extended their siege to Khan Yunis and its medical facilities.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is adamant about an imminent ground attack on Rafah, where more than 1.4 million displaced Palestinians have taken refuge, sparking a humanitarian crisis.
“All night [air] After the attack on Rafah, we witnessed the horror of displaced Palestinians who were ordered to evacuate and tried to find shelter in a city they were told was a 'safe zone'. They find themselves targeted and killed in their own homes,” Al Jazeera said. Hani Mahmoud, reporting from Rafah, said on Sunday.
“On top of that, there is a shortage of medical staff and supplies, which means people are literally lying on hospital floors for hours waiting for help. Israel has placed limits on the provision of aid. , the shortage is worsening.”
The United Nations, along with the United States and other Israeli allies, said it would not accept an invasion of Rafah, but did not discuss what it would do if Israel went ahead with a “total victory” approach.
