Israel strikes rage around major hospitals
Troops and tanks have encircled Gaza City's Al-Shifa Hospital, and recently moved on the Al-Amal Hospital in the main southern city of Khan Yunis
Published: 05:03 PM,Mar 25,2024 | EDITED : 09:03 PM,Mar 25,2024
Palestinians mourn their relatives, killed in Israeli bombardment, at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah. — AFP
GAZA: Israeli forces fought Palestinians in besieged Gaza on Monday including around at least two major hospitals, raising fears for the patients, medics and displaced people trapped inside.
Troops and tanks have encircled Gaza City's Al-Shifa Hospital, the territory's biggest, for a week and more recently moved on the Al-Amal Hospital in the main southern city of Khan Yunis.
While Israel has labelled its operations 'precise' and said it has taken care to avoid harm to civilians, aid agencies have voiced alarm about civilians caught up in the fighting.
As combat raged on, technical talks have continued in Qatar towards a truce and captives release deal, and the UN Security Council was set to convene later in the day for a vote on a new ceasefire demand.
Almost six months into the war sparked by the October 7 attack, global concern has mounted over the threat of famine in Gaza, and on Israeli plans to invade the crowded far-southern city of Rafah.
As Israel's top ally the United States has voiced rising concern, the Israeli defence minister, Yoav Gallant, was headed to Washington for talks with Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin.
Gallant said his focus in the United States -- which provides Israel with billions of dollars in military aid a year -- would include 'our ability to obtain platforms and munitions'.
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who leads a coalition including ultra-nationalist parties, has vowed to go ahead with a Rafah invasion even without Washington's support.
US Vice President Kamala Harris stressed that a Rafah invasion would be 'a huge mistake' and, when asked whether she would rule out 'consequences' for Israel.
The health ministry in the Gaza Strip put the total Palestinian death toll at 32,333, most of them women and children.
Bombardment and fighting in Gaza killed another 72 people overnight, according to the ministry.
More than 50 airstrikes rained down on the Gaza Strip, said the government press office.
Israel's armed forces gave a similar number and said its fighter jets and helicopters had struck about 50 targets and eliminated approximately 10 of them.
Food and water shortages have deepened the suffering, especially in northern Gaza where residents, mostly women and children, were waiting in line to fill up jerrycans and buckets in Jabalia.
Palestinians living near Al-Shifa have reported hellish conditions, including corpses in the streets, constant bombardment and the rounding up of men, who are stripped to their underwear and questioned.
At Al-Amal Hospital, the Palestinian Red Crescent said Israeli forces had surrounded all entrances and prohibited hospital staff from leaving. — AFP
Troops and tanks have encircled Gaza City's Al-Shifa Hospital, the territory's biggest, for a week and more recently moved on the Al-Amal Hospital in the main southern city of Khan Yunis.
While Israel has labelled its operations 'precise' and said it has taken care to avoid harm to civilians, aid agencies have voiced alarm about civilians caught up in the fighting.
As combat raged on, technical talks have continued in Qatar towards a truce and captives release deal, and the UN Security Council was set to convene later in the day for a vote on a new ceasefire demand.
Almost six months into the war sparked by the October 7 attack, global concern has mounted over the threat of famine in Gaza, and on Israeli plans to invade the crowded far-southern city of Rafah.
As Israel's top ally the United States has voiced rising concern, the Israeli defence minister, Yoav Gallant, was headed to Washington for talks with Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin.
Gallant said his focus in the United States -- which provides Israel with billions of dollars in military aid a year -- would include 'our ability to obtain platforms and munitions'.
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who leads a coalition including ultra-nationalist parties, has vowed to go ahead with a Rafah invasion even without Washington's support.
US Vice President Kamala Harris stressed that a Rafah invasion would be 'a huge mistake' and, when asked whether she would rule out 'consequences' for Israel.
The health ministry in the Gaza Strip put the total Palestinian death toll at 32,333, most of them women and children.
Bombardment and fighting in Gaza killed another 72 people overnight, according to the ministry.
More than 50 airstrikes rained down on the Gaza Strip, said the government press office.
Israel's armed forces gave a similar number and said its fighter jets and helicopters had struck about 50 targets and eliminated approximately 10 of them.
Food and water shortages have deepened the suffering, especially in northern Gaza where residents, mostly women and children, were waiting in line to fill up jerrycans and buckets in Jabalia.
Palestinians living near Al-Shifa have reported hellish conditions, including corpses in the streets, constant bombardment and the rounding up of men, who are stripped to their underwear and questioned.
At Al-Amal Hospital, the Palestinian Red Crescent said Israeli forces had surrounded all entrances and prohibited hospital staff from leaving. — AFP