Gaza Hospitals under Direct Hit As Israel Escalates Violence: UN
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The United Nations has reported that multiple hospitals in Gaza, including Al-Shifa and the Indonesian Hospital in northern Gaza, have been "directly hit" as Israel intensifies shelling and ground attacks in the region.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in the occupied Palestinian Territories highlighted the severe impact on medical facilities, noting that power outages and damaged generators are exacerbating an already dire situation.
On November 11, Israeli shelling and ground attacks intensified around hospitals, with civilians, patients, and staff reportedly shot at while attempting to flee Shifa hospital in Gaza City.
Power cuts were reported at Shifa and the Indonesian Hospital, leading to critical consequences, including the death of babies at Shifa when their life support failed according to the Ministry of Health in Ramallah.
The OCHA Under Secretary General and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Martin Griffiths, condemned these attacks, stating, "There can be no justification for acts of war in health care facilities, leaving them with no power, food, or water, and shooting at patients and civilians trying to flee."
Under international humanitarian law (IHL), hospitals are entitled to specific protection and must not be used to shield military objectives. Military operations around or within hospitals must prioritize the safety of patients, medical staff, and civilians. All feasible precautions must be taken to avoid incidental civilian harm, including effective warnings.
Tens of thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs) have fled southwards from the north. However, those who remain in the north are facing severe challenges in accessing essentials for survival, with reports of people drinking water from "unsafe sources," raising concerns about dehydration and waterborne diseases.
The reported fatality toll since October 7 includes at least 192 medical staff, according to the Ministry of Health in Gaza. Of them, at least 16 medical staff were on duty when killed, as reported by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Additionally, 101 UNRWA staff, marking the highest number of UN personnel killed in a conflict in the organization's history, have lost their lives. The crisis has also claimed the lives of 18 Palestinian Civil Defense personnel and 44 Palestinian journalists.
At least 11,078 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza since October 7. These figures may not be the latest as several hospitals lost contact on Saturday, delaying updates from the Gaza Ministry of Health, according to the UN.