Gaza:  United Nations General Secretary Antonio Guterres has slammed Israeli forces for resorting to "collective punishment" of the Palestinians in response to the October 7 Hamas attacks.

Speaking to CNN, Guterres said that Israel cannot use Hamas' attacks "as a reason for collective punishment of the Palestinian people," Reuters reported.

He also confirmed that 101 UN personnel have been killed in the conflict so far.

The UN chief's remarks come as more than 11,000 Palestinians — of which over 5,000 are children have been martyred due to Israeli aggression.

Meanwhile, as war rages on in Gaza Strip, two primary medical facilities-Al Quds and Al Shifa Hospital-of besieged strip are now in crosshairs of Israeli forces.

According to the Red Crescent Society (PRCS), Al Quds Hospital is “Out of service and no longer operational” due to fuel shortage and power outage.

“Humanitarian crisis in Gaza the northern region has worsened dramatically with escalation of Israeli military attacks including targeting sieging and deprivation of aid to hospitals, leading to their closure,” PRCS said.

“Al Quds hospital has been cut off from world in last 6-7 days [there is] no way in, no way out,” Tommaso Della Longa, spokesman for International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies told Reuters. Meanwhile, Al-Shifa Hospital’s cardiac ward has also been destroyed by Israeli forces worsening humanitarian crisis in beleaguered territory.

According to Yousef Abu al-Rish Gaza’s Deputy Health Minister, two-storey building of cardiac ward has been completely destroyed due to an Israeli airstrike, Al Jazeera reported quoting AFP.

On other hand, World Health Organisation has expressed grave concern over safety of health workers, hundreds of sick and injured people, babies on life support and displaced people who remain inside hospitals in Gaza.

WHO again calls for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza as only way to save lives and reduce horrific levels of suffering,WHO Chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in post on X. Moreover, thirteen Palestinians were martyred in an Israeli strike on house in Khan Younis, health officials in Gaza said.

Published in The Daily National Courier, November, 13 2023

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