'Catastrophic': Five Patients Die as Israeli Forces Raid Gaza's Largest Hospital
Gaza's Health Ministry said on Friday that a fifth patient died in the hospital because of a power cut caused by Israel's incursion, which also restricted oxygen supplies. The ministry had earlier reported that four patients died after Israeli forces stormed the hospital, where thousands of patients, displaced people and health staff were taking shelter.
“We hold the Israeli Occupation responsible for the lives of patients and staff considering that the complex is now under its full control,” the ministry said in a statement.
According to reports, Israeli forces had arrested more than 20 people in the hospital, alleging that they were involved in Operation Al-Aqsa Flood on October 7.
Dr Nahed Abu Taima, director of Nasser Medical Complex, told Al Jazeera that the situation at the hospital was "catastrophic". He said that they were forced to transfer all the patients and the wounded to the hospital's old building, as the electric power was cut off from the entire complex.
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He said that many patients in intensive care units, on oxygen supply and on dialysis were left fighting for their lives since 3 am (02:00 GMT). He added that they were "helpless", unable to provide any form of medical assistance to the patients inside the hospital or the victims flooding into the hospital every minute.
The World Health Organization (WHO) said that it was trying to get access to the hospital to deliver fuel and provide life-saving services. WHO spokesperson Tarik Jasarevic said that there were still critically injured and sick patients inside the hospital who needed assistance.
He also said that reports of Israeli forces moving many patients into a different building were "gravely concerning". He stressed that international humanitarian law and the principles of precaution and proportionality must be upheld, and that patients' health must be prioritised and uninterrupted care in a safe environment must be ensured.
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The Health Ministry in Gaza said that Israel's war on Gaza had killed at least 28,775 people and wounded 68,552, as of Friday. It added that 112 Palestinians had been killed and 157 wounded over the past 24 hours.
The Israeli regime launched its deadly military campaign against Gaza on October 7 after resistance groups launched the operation in response to increased Israeli violence. Most of the casualties in the besieged Gaza Strip are women and children.
Source: Agencies
