The situation at the only remaining medical facility in northern Gaza is “catastrophic,” the health ministry said.
Israeli tanks surrounded the Indonesian hospital in northern Gaza after artillery fire killed at least 12 Palestinians in the complex, according to the war-torn enclave’s health ministry.
Ashraf al-Qudra, spokesperson for Gaza’s health ministry, told Tel Aviv Tribune on Monday that “the situation is catastrophic” at the Indonesian hospital, where hundreds of people remain stuck.
“Indonesian hospital staff insist they will stay to treat the injured. There are around 700 people, including medical staff and injured people, inside the hospital,” he said.
The Israeli army, which rarely makes troop movements public, had no immediate comment.
The Palestinian Wafa news agency said the facilities in Beit Lahiya in northeastern Gaza were hit by artillery fire. Palestinian health officials said frantic efforts were being made to evacuate civilians out of danger.
Hospital staff denied the presence of armed militants at the scene.
Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi condemned Israel’s actions and urged Tel Aviv’s partners to “end its atrocities.”
“This attack constitutes a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law. All countries, especially those with close relations with Israel, must use all their influence and capabilities to urge Israel to end its atrocities,” she said in a statement.
The advancement of the facility, established in 2016 with funding from Indonesian organizations, came a day after the World Health Organization evacuated 31 premature babies from al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City.
They were among more than 250 seriously ill or injured patients stranded there since Israeli forces entered the compound.
The territory’s largest health facility is evacuated at gunpoint after being under siege for several days with 7,000 people inside.
The UN humanitarian agency OCHA reported the “collapse of services” in hospitals in northern Gaza following widespread airstrikes and a lack of fuel and medical supplies.
The Israeli military claims that Hamas, the group that rules Gaza, has built underground infrastructure beneath hospitals for military purposes, something Hamas and medical officials deny.
Marwan Abdallah, a doctor at the Indonesian hospital, said Israeli tanks were visible from the windows.
“You can see them moving around and shooting,” he said. “Women and children are terrified. There are constant sounds of explosions and gunshots.
Abdallah said the hospital received dozens of dead and wounded in air raids and shelling overnight.
Israel launched its offensive against Gaza after a wave of Hamas cross-border raids on October 7 killed more than 1,200 people, mostly civilians, according to Israeli authorities.
The Hamas-led government says the death toll from Israeli aerial bombardments and ground operations on Palestinian territory has reached 13,000, including thousands of children.
