The situation around the Al-Shifa hospital in the Gaza Strip is getting worse. Thousands of civilians are caught between the fronts in the contested area. Israel’s army spokesman speaks of one “Huge challenge”.
In view of the fierce fighting between the Israeli army and the Islamist Hamas, concerns are growing for the people in the hospitals in the Gaza Strip. The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Sunday that the largest hospital in the coastal area, the Al-Shifa Clinic, was no longer functional. There has been no electricity or water for three days, said WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. The situation on site is “bad and dangerous”.
Israel accuses Hamas of building its military headquarters in tunnels under the Al-Shifa-To have built a hospital complex. Peter Lerner, Spokesman for the Israeli army described the Al-Shifa Hospital in a ZDF interview on Sunday evening as “absolutely central focus”. The extent of the Hamas operation from there is “huge”in and under the hospital and in similar locations. “We are pushing forward, but we have left a clear entrance, the eastern exit”, emphasized Lerner. People could leave the clinic there – thousands have already done so.
From the spokesman’s point of view, the situation is around the Al-Shifa Hospital “a perfect example” for how the Israeli army is proceeding. “Just last night, in the early hours of the morning, we brought 300 liters of fuel so that we could run the generators there”, says Lerner. Hamas, on the other hand, is threatening those responsible at the hospital and preventing goods from being brought in. Hamas rejects these allegations. The Islamists claim that they have rejected the fuel and at the same time criticize that the amount is not even enough to run the generators for more than thirty minutes.
Israel’s army spokesman speaks of civilian casualties “Huge challenge”
The European Union also condemned Hamas’ use of hospitals and civilians as shields. “Civilians must be allowed to leave the combat zone”said a statement by EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell on behalf of the EU on Sunday evening. “In this context we demand Israel Urgently to exercise the greatest possible restraint in order to ensure the protection of the civilian population”it continues.
“The civilian casualties in this war are a pure catastrophe”emphasized army spokesman Lerner. “Civilians are paying a high price. A price that Hamas decided to pay with its decision to attack us (…). We have no alternative. We need to change this paradigm.” According to the spokesman, that’s why “indispensable”that people evacuate the hospital. They try to coordinate, help and differentiate between non-combatant civilians and soldiers. Be it “a huge challenge for any army”the spokesman explained, adding, “but we want to defeat Hamas and that brings us one step closer to our goal.”
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Since Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7th, the Israeli military has been massively attacking targets in the Gaza Strip, and ground troops have now also entered the Palestinian territory. According to Hamas figures, which cannot be independently verified, 11,180 people were killed as of Sunday evening. Around half of the 2.4 million residents within the narrow coastal area are on the run.
Sources: “”with agency material from DPA and AFP
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
