The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson, Lt Col Richard Hecht, has established that the Israeli military was maintaining its focus on Hamas in Gaza despite sporadic attacks on Israel from Lebanon and Syria.
In a press briefing, Hecht disclosed that the IDF “took out” two commanders in Hamas’ elite Nukhba forces overnight in Gaza.
He added that rocket fire was continuing out of Gaza aimed at Tel Aviv.
Answering questions about the IDF advance towards al-Shifa hospital, which is full of seriously wounded or otherwise incapacitated patients, Hecht remarked that the IDF was aware of the sensitivities of the hospitals in Gaza.
He said, “The IDF does not fire on hostages but if we see a Hamas terrorist, we will kill him.”
The IDF has repeatedly claimed that Hamas is using the hospitals and similar sites to shield military installations, and using ambulances to transport militants.
Speaking to reporters, the head of Al-Shifa Medical Complex, Muhammad Abu Salmiya responded to the Israeli claim that al-Shifa, Gaza City’s largest hospital, provides cover for a Hamas command centre.
“This is false, these are utter lies,” Abu Salmiya said.
He added, “This is a civilian hospital. We cater to more than 1.5 million Gazans.”
“The Israeli occupation forces are fully aware that this is a totally safe area. They are certain that there is no command centre or any tunnels under these hospitals.
“UNRWA staff, UN staff, international organisation staff have been in and around the hospital, they know that this is a totally civilian hospital catering to the victims and patients. More than two weeks ago we took the representatives of the media from all over the world in a tour in and around and under the hospital to prove that the Israelis are propogating mere lies, false groundless allegations.”
Muhammad Abu Salmiya
Moreover, Abu Salmiya called today’s attacks against his hospital and several others a “day of war against hospitals”, adding that it was “tragic in every sense of the word.”
“The sick and wounded occupy all of the hospital’s corridors, and we cannot perform surgical operations,” he said.
Abu Salmiya said that only four sections of the hospital were still operating; the intensive care unit, the baby incubator unit, the operation theatre and the dialysis unit.
“These wards cannot function without electricity,” he said, adding, “We are in dire need of fuel.”
The director added that the thousands of displaced people living inside the hospital are without food or water, and that the fear is that Israel will bomb the hospital and destroy it.
Gaza’s health ministry disclosed that the number of Palestinians killed since October 7 has risen to 11,078, including at least 4,506 children.
“Point Of No Return”
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) noted in a statement, “The healthcare system in Gaza has reached a point of no return risking the lives of thousands of wounded, sick and displaced people.”
It added that ICRC teams in Gaza “have witnessed horrendous images that have now gotten worse due to sharpened hostilities.”
Children’s hospitals have been heavily damaged by the fighting, the ICRC said.
“Any military operation around hospitals must consider the presence of civilians, who are protected under international humanitarian law. The rules of war are clear. Hospitals are specially protected facilities under international humanitarian law.”
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
The ICRC called for the “immediate protection of all civilians, including humanitarian workers and medical personnel” in Gaza, as it warns that the besieged enclave’s health system has collapsed.
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