Israeli forces stormed a hospital and besieged another in the southern Gaza Strip, depriving the wounded of trauma care, Palestinian officials said.
Israeli soldiers advanced on Monday for the first time in the al-Mawasi district, near the Mediterranean coast, west of Khan Younis, the main city in southern Gaza. There, they stormed Al-Khair General Hospital and arrested medical staff, Ashraf al-Qudra, a spokesman for Gaza’s health ministry, told the Reuters news agency.
There was no immediate word from Israel on the situation at the hospital. The military spokesperson’s office had no comment.
The Palestinian Red Crescent Society said tanks had surrounded another hospital in Khan Younis, El Amal Municipal Hospital, headquarters of the relief agency, which had lost contact with its staff.
Qudra said at least 50 people were killed overnight in Khan Younis and sieges of medical facilities meant dozens of dead and injured were beyond the reach of rescuers.
“The Israeli occupation prevents ambulances from traveling to collect the bodies of martyrs and wounded in western Khan Younis,” he said.
Israel has accused Hamas fighters of operating in and around hospitals. Hamas and medical personnel have denied the allegations.
“Hamas integrates its operations within and under hospitals and other medical facilities,” said Elad Goren, the Israeli military body responsible for Palestinian civil affairs. “A special effort led by a dedicated team was made to ensure that civilians had access to medical care. »
Residents said the air, land and sea bombardments were the most intense in the southern sector of Gaza since the war began on October 7, as Israeli tanks moved through Khan Younis towards the Mediterranean coast.