Thousands of people have fled from Gaza’s main hospital as Israeli forces and Palestinian militants continue to battle outside. However, there are still hundreds of patients, including babies, who remain trapped inside the hospital due to the ongoing fighting.
The situation in Gaza’s hospitals has become dire, with critically wounded patients, newborns, and their caregivers stranded without electricity and dwindling supplies. The battles between Israel and Hamas have forced thousands of Palestinians to flee from what were perceived as safe places in northern Gaza, leaving behind those who are unable to move.
The main hospital in Gaza City, Shifa, has been encircled by Israeli troops for days, with gunfire and explosions raging around the facility. Tens of thousands of people have already fled the hospital in recent days, including displaced individuals who had sought shelter there, as well as patients who were able to move. However, approximately 650 patients and 500 staff members remain trapped inside the hospital, which is now unable to function properly.
The situation is particularly dire for the patients, including babies, who are still inside the hospital. The lack of electricity poses a significant risk, especially for dozens of babies who are at risk of dying without access to necessary medical equipment. The hospital’s emergency generator ran out of fuel, leading to the deaths of 32 patients, including three babies, and putting 36 babies and other patients at risk.
The Israeli military has accused Hamas of using hospitals as cover for its fighters and claims that the main command center for Hamas is located in and beneath Shifa Hospital. However, Hamas and the hospital staff deny these allegations. The Israeli military released footage of a children’s hospital that its forces had moved into, showing weapons they claimed to have found inside.
The situation in Gaza’s hospitals highlights the larger war between Israel and Hamas, which has been ongoing for six weeks. Both sides have seized on the plight of hospitals as a symbol of the conflict, with Israel accusing Hamas of using hospitals as instruments of war, and Palestinians seeing the suffering of civilians in these facilities.