A Palestinian boy reacts as he inspects the location of an Israeli strike on a home, amid the continued battle between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in Rafah, within the southern Gaza Strip, March 24, 2024. REUTERS
CAIRO — Israeli forces besieged two extra Gaza hospitals on Sunday, pinning down medical groups underneath heavy gunfire, the Palestinian Purple Crescent stated, and Israel stated it had captured 480 militants in continued clashes at Gaza’s essential Al Shifa hospital.
Israel says hospitals within the Palestinian enclave, the place warfare has been raging for over 5 months, are utilized by Hamas militants as bases. It has launched movies and photos supporting the declare.
Hamas and medical employees deny the accusations.
The Palestinian Purple Crescent stated considered one of its employees was killed when Israeli tanks immediately pushed again into areas round Al-Amal and Nasser hospitals within the southern metropolis of Khan Younis, amid heavy bombardment and gunfire.
READ: Israel raids essential Gaza hospital as Rafah considerations develop
Israeli forces started working round Al-Amal, the army stated, following “exact intelligence … which indicated that terrorists are utilizing civilian infrastructure for terror actions within the space of Al-Amal.”
Israeli armored forces sealed off Al-Amal Hospital and carried out in depth bulldozing operations in its neighborhood, the Purple Crescent stated in an announcement.
“All of our groups are in excessive hazard for the time being and are fully immobilized,” it stated.
The Purple Crescent stated Israeli forces had been now demanding the entire evacuation of employees, sufferers and displaced folks from Al Amal’s premises and had been firing smoke bombs into the realm to power out its occupants.
A displaced Palestinian was killed contained in the hospital compound after being hit within the head by Israeli hearth, the Purple Crescent stated in a later replace.
The well being ministry in Hamas-run Gaza stated dozens of sufferers and medical staffers had been detained by Israeli forces at Al Shifa in Gaza Metropolis within the enclave’s north that has been underneath Israeli management for per week.
The Hamas-run authorities media workplace stated Israeli forces had killed 5 Palestinian docs throughout their seven-day-old swoop on Al Shifa.
The Israeli army didn’t instantly reply to a request for touch upon that report. It stated earlier that it had killed over 170 gunmen within the raid, which the Palestinian Well being Ministry stated had additionally brought on the deaths of 5 sufferers.
Al Shifa is likely one of the few healthcare services even partially operational in north Gaza, and – like others – had additionally been housing a few of the almost 2 million civilians – over 80% of Gaza’s inhabitants – displaced by the warfare.
“Proper now, Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorists are barricading themselves inside Shifa hospital wards,” stated Israeli army spokesperson, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari.
Hagari stated Hamas gunmen had been firing at troopers from contained in the emergency and maternity wards of the hospital, and in addition firing mortars at troops within the hospital, inflicting injury.
The Hamas-run authorities media workplace stated they “categorically refute this.”
“How can they declare this whereas their troopers roam and frolic contained in the complicated with ease, conducting interrogations with displaced individuals, sufferers, and the wounded,” stated media workplace director Ismail Al-Thawabta.
Air strikes kill 7 in Rafah
Reuters has been unable to entry Gaza’s contested hospital areas and confirm accounts by both facet.
Khan Younis residents stated Israeli forces had additionally superior and shaped a cordon round Nasser Hospital within the metropolis’s west underneath cowl of heavy air and floor hearth.
READ: Blinken warns Israel of worldwide isolation if it assaults Rafah
In Rafah, Gaza’s southernmost city on the Egyptian border that has grow to be the final refuge for half of Gaza’s uprooted inhabitants, an Israeli air strike on a home killed seven folks, well being officers stated.
At the least 32,226 Palestinians have been killed, amongst them 84 prior to now 24 hours, and 74,518 injured in Israel’s air and floor offensive into the densely populated coastal territory since Oct. 7, its well being ministry stated in a Sunday replace.
Israel launched the offensive after Hamas-led Islamist militants attacked its south on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 folks and taking 253 hostages again to Gaza, in keeping with Israeli tallies.
U.S.-backed mediation by Qatar and Egypt has to this point didn’t safe a Hamas-Israel ceasefire, prisoner releases and unfettered support to Gaza civilians going through famine, with either side sticking to core calls for.
Hamas desires any truce deal to incorporate an Israeli dedication to finish the warfare and withdraw forces from Gaza. Israel has dominated this out, saying it can maintain combating till Hamas is eradicated as a political and army power.
U.N. Secretary-Basic Antonio Guterres described the backlog of support destined for Gaza as an ethical outrage throughout a go to to the Egyptian facet of the Rafah border crossing on Saturday.
Talking in Cairo on Sunday, Guterres stated the one efficient and environment friendly solution to ship heavy items to fulfill Gaza’s humanitarian wants was by highway.
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The US and different international locations have tried utilizing air drops and ships to ship support, however U.N. support officers say deliveries can solely be scaled up by land, accusing Israel of impeding reduction, which Israel denies.