Israel is under increasing international pressure, including from the United States, to enhance measures for protecting Palestinian civilians in Gaza. This call for action comes as the conflict intensifies, particularly around medical facilities, and the death toll in Gaza continues to rise.
The past five weeks have seen the Palestinian death toll in Gaza surpass 11,000, as reported by local health officials. Intense clashes between Hamas and Israeli forces near Gaza’s largest hospital, Al-Shifa, have put immense strain on the already overwhelmed health system.
The Gaza health ministry and international aid organizations, including Doctors Without Borders, have expressed grave concerns over the safety of patients and medical staff at Al-Shifa Hospital, with reports of increasing attacks on the facility.
International Leaders Urge for Ceasefire
French President Emmanuel Macron, in a recent BBC interview, strongly urged Israel to halt bombings in Gaza and cease civilian casualties. While condemning Hamas’ actions as “terrorist,” Macron emphasized the need for Israel to exercise restraint. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, however, responded by emphasizing the need for condemnation of Hamas, suggesting that the actions seen in Gaza could spread to other parts of the world.
The conflict has intensified around Gaza City’s overcrowded hospitals, with Palestinian officials reporting explosions and gunfire in the vicinity. Gaza’s health system, already reeling under pressure, faces further challenges with attacks on multiple hospitals, including Al Shifa, the Indonesian Hospital, and the Nasser Rantissi paediatric cancer hospital.
Israel’s military attributed some of the damage to misfired projectiles from Palestinian fighters while also alleging that Hamas uses hospital tunnels to hide weapons, a claim Hamas denies.
The World Health Organisation’s Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, reported that health workers at Shifa had been forced to evacuate due to security risks, with many displaced people taking shelter in hospitals.
The ongoing conflict has led to a situation where no one in Gaza, including those in hospitals, is safe from the violence. Israeli authorities have announced plans to establish hospitals in southern Gaza and have ordered a portion of Gaza’s population to relocate ahead of military actions. The increasing toll of casualties and the impact on Gaza’s infrastructure continue to raise serious humanitarian concerns.
