Hundreds of Patients Stuck at Gaza Hospitals as Israeli Strike Continues
Hundreds of patients are stuck in hospitals in the north of Gaza, according to the United Nations (UN) agency for Palestinian refugees.
Doctors say Israel told staff to evacuate Al-Quds hospital in Gaza city on Sunday but that moving patients – many of whom are in intensive care – is impossible.
The Palestinian Red Crescent says Israeli air strikes are continuing in the area.
About 14,000 civilians are also understood to be sheltering in the hospital and its grounds.
It comes as Israel’s military says it is expanding its ground offensive in Gaza, saying troops killed “dozens of terrorists” during clashes overnight.
The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza says more than 8,000 people have been killed since Israel’s retaliatory bombing began.
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Tom White from UNRWA echoed what doctors and other charities have said – that it’s impossible to move patients from hospitals like Al-Quds in northern Gaza. The Palestinian Red Crescent says Israel told them to evacuate the hospital on Sunday while strikes continue nearby.
“Many people in the north are seeking shelter in UNRWA schools, they’re seeking shelter in hospitals,” said White. “I was up and one of the hospitals this week and there are hundreds and hundreds of patients that can’t be moved.”
He said many people in the north – not just patients – also “can’t move because they physically don’t have the transportation, they don’t have the means”.
People are “very hungry, very thirsty and very scared”, and many are living off pieces of bread and “when we can [we’re] getting them canned food”.
