Shelling, gunshots and explosions could be heard as Israeli troops surrounded one of Gaza’s largest hospitals.
Social media videos emerged showing people running for cover outside the Rantisi children’s hospital in Gaza on Friday. Israel has insisted Hamas fighters hide in tunnels under hospitals in Gaza.
However, the Red Cross has now warned hospitals in the region had reached “a point of no return,” reports the BBC. The charity says staff in the Strip had witnessed “horredous scenes” while trying to deliver medication.
The Hamas-controlled Gaza Health Ministry now claims 11,078 people have been killed since the start of the war and more than 27,000 others have been injured.
Israel’s offensive in Gaza was launched after Hamas launched a surprise attack on October 7. It is thought 1,200 people died during the surprise attack – lower than the previous 1,400 reported.
Reports that Israeli forces in Gaza were surrounding several hospitals in Gaza City first emerged on Friday morning. One person inside the Al-Quds hospital told the BBC that they could hear “continuous clashes and explosions”.
Eyewitnesses outside the Al-Rantisi Paediatric Hospital said that Israeli troops were using megaphones to order anyone who was not medical staff or patients to leave the premises.
Meanwhile thousands are said to have sought shelter in the Al-Shifa hospital. Dr Ashraf al-Qudra, a spokesman for the ministry in Gaza, said that up to five Israeli strikes had damaged parts of Al-Shifa hospital, including the maternity ward.
Hamas reported 13 deaths at the hospital. Dr Al-Qudra said he knew of at least one but could not confirm others.
The BBC said fighting around Al-Quds hospital also intensified as night fell. The United Nations meanwhile said 36 of the Gaza Strip hospitals were not currently functioning.
A spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said the IDF “does not fire on hospitals” but that “we’ll do what we need to” if Hamas fired from hospital grounds.
al-Qudra
