Alarmed by grave reports emerging from Gaza, the international legal community continues to closely monitor the rapidly unfolding crisis encompassing several major hospitals in the region. These include Al-Shifa Hospital, the largest in Northern Gaza, and Al-Quds Hospital, both of which are now encircled by Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), according to the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Palestinian Red Crescent.
The WHO recently lost contact with Al-Shifa Hospital, amid reports of the hospital persistently being targeted. It now reportedly sits damaged, with intensive care hit hard and its critical backup systems depleted. The Red Crescent’s latest broadcasts echo the grim state of affairs with its warnings of dwindling resources and imminent threat posed to innocent patients.
On the other hand, in a statement to CNN, the Israeli government unveiled that it is engaged in intensive fighting against Hamas near Al-Shifa Hospital. The IDF, speaking through its spokesperson, asserted it had offered fuel and assistance in evacuating premature babies from the hospital, but Hamas leadership allegedly prevented them from assisting.
Responding to Israel’s claims, a Palestinian Health Ministry spokesperson countered by asserting that the situation was “not an evacuation but an expulsion at gunpoint”, accusing the IDF of responsibility for the demise of 12 patients, including two newborns.
The IDF has also issued a statement about Al-Quds Hospital, maintaining that RPG fire was aimed at their soldiers from the direction of the hospital, presumably by a terrorist squad.
These disturbing incidents, including a previous blast at the Al-Ahli Arab Hospital in October, caused both the WHO and the Red Crescent to condemn these attacks near hospitals, labeling them as war crimes. At this time, it remains of utmost importance for the international law community to stay vigilant and to work towards ensuring the safety and dignity of patients and healthcare providers in conflict zones.