New Israeli strikes target Gaza hospitals, escalating humanitarian crisis
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Gaza authorities reported that Israel conducted airstrikes in close proximity to at least three hospitals on Friday, exacerbating the strain on a healthcare system overwhelmed by the aftermath of Israel's aggressive offensive in the Palestinian enclave.
According to Palestinian officials, as of Thursday, 10,812 Gaza residents, with approximately 40% being children, have lost their lives in air and artillery strikes. The region is grappling with a humanitarian crisis as essential resources like food and water dwindle, and civilian displacement due to shelling compounds the dire situation.
Ashraf Al-Qidra, the spokesperson for the Gaza Ministry of Health, informed Al Jazeera that Israel simultaneously targeted several hospitals in recent hours, including the main Al Shifa hospital in Gaza City. While casualties were reported, specific details were not provided.
The Israeli military did not immediately respond to Qidra's statement.
The ongoing Israeli military campaign, spanning a month, has left Gaza's hospitals in a precarious state, grappling with shortages of medical supplies, clean water, and fuel for generators. Gaza's health ministry noted that 18 of the 35 hospitals and 40 other health centers were either damaged by bombardment or rendered inoperable due to fuel shortages.
Video footage circulated by Palestinian media depicted the aftermath of an alleged Israeli attack on a parking lot near Al Shifa, where displaced Palestinians sought refuge. The footage showed a pool of blood beside a man placed on a stretcher.
Human Rights Watch expressed deep concern about the well-being of thousands of civilians, especially children, seeking medical care and shelter in the vicinity of Al Shifa, amid ongoing strikes and fighting.
According to Qidra, Al-Rantisi Pediatric Hospital and Al-Nasr Children's Hospital faced direct attacks and bombardments on Friday. He reported that strikes at Al-Rantisi set vehicles ablaze, although some fires were partially extinguished.
Indonesia's foreign ministry disclosed that explosions near the Indonesian Hospital, positioned at the northern end of the coastal enclave, damaged parts of the facility overnight. The statement did not assign responsibility for the explosion, nor did it report any casualties. Indonesia condemned the attacks on civilians and humanitarian facilities in Gaza.