Gaza’s Nasser Hospital Ceases Functioning After Israeli Raid, Says WHO
The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported that Gaza’s Nasser Hospital has stopped functioning after an Israeli raid. The Israel Defense Force (IDF) troops entered the hospital complex, claiming that Hamas hostages were being held there. The WHO has been denied access to the site to assess the situation.
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the head of the WHO, expressed his concerns about the hospital’s condition. He stated that the WHO team was not allowed to enter the hospital to assess the patients’ needs, despite attempting to deliver fuel. There are approximately 200 patients in the hospital, with at least 20 requiring urgent medical care.
According to the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza, only four medical staff members remain in the hospital to care for the remaining patients. A source inside the hospital revealed that 11 patients had died due to interruptions in electricity and oxygen supply, and several doctors had been arrested.
The Israeli military claimed that they had instructed their troops to keep the hospital running and had delivered food and water. However, when asked about the hospital’s state, an army spokesman provided no further information.
The fighting around the Nasser site has been ongoing for weeks, with Israel accusing Hamas of using hospitals and schools as operational bases. The Israeli military reported killing around 20 Hamas fighters and seizing numerous weapons in the hospital’s vicinity.
The conflict between Israel and Hamas began after Hamas-led gunmen launched attacks in Israel on October 7 last year, resulting in the deaths of at least 1,200 people. In response, Israel initiated a military campaign in the Gaza Strip. According to the Hamas-run health ministry, over 28,400 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have been killed, and more than 68,000 have been wounded since the war started.
Efforts to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas have been taking place in Cairo, but recent progress has been described as “not very promising” by Qatari mediators. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that negotiators were sent following a request from US President Joe Biden but did not return for further discussions due to what he called Hamas’s “delusional” demands.
Hamas has blamed Israel for the lack of progress in achieving a ceasefire deal. The group has outlined conditions for a ceasefire, including the exchange of hostages for Palestinian prisoners, a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces, and an end to the war after a 135-day pause in fighting.
Despite international pressure, Prime Minister Netanyahu reiterated that Israel would continue its ground invasion of Gaza, extending it to the area of Rafah. This decision has raised concerns about the safety of Palestinian civilians who sought refuge in Rafah during the early days of the war.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi expressed his opposition to any forced displacement of Palestinians into Egypt’s Sinai desert. He emphasized the need for a swift advancement of a ceasefire and has consistently advocated for an independent state for Palestinians.
In a recent development, Prime Minister Netanyahu announced that his government unanimously voted to oppose the “unilateral recognition” of Palestinian statehood. He emphasized that any agreement must be reached through direct negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians, rejecting international dictates.
The situation in Gaza remains dire, with the Nasser Hospital ceasing to function and ongoing clashes between Israel and Hamas. Efforts to establish a ceasefire continue, but progress has been slow. The plight of Palestinian civilians caught in the crossfire remains a pressing concern, as does the need for a long-term solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.