Al Shifa Doctor Says, "It's Continuous Shooting From The Tanks" (image:twitter.com/jacksonhinklle)
As the Israel – Hamas War continues, in a recent move, Israeli forces raided Al Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, the largest medical complex which shelters patients, displaced people and medical staff.
Dr Ahmed El Mokhallalati, a surgeon in the hospital told news agency Reuters on Wednesday that gunshots forced medical staff to stay away from the windows for safety. “All kinds of weapons were used around the hospital. They targeted the hospital directly. We try to avoid being near the windows,” he said.
In the telephonic conversation he told that gunfire and explosion heard over a month escalated early Tuesday evening. “It”s continuous shooting from the tanks,” he added .
Meanwhile, Israel denied targeting the facility and stated that its forces entered one specific location within the complex, with no fighting inside the hospital and no friction with staff. Mr Mokhallalati said tat Israel had warned about the raid beforehand, but staff has no clue how it would be executed.
When the news agency contacted Doctor later he informs that soldiers are moving between the building of the hospital complex.
“No one is operating, no one is seeing anyone. We are all waiting for the end point of this one, are we going to survive this moment or not. We are unable to perform anything, we are all waiting for the attack to settle down or to come to an end,” he said.
The surgeon also details about the death toll of the patients in the hospital including newborns due to lack of oxygen.
Reuters report that Israeli forces said that they had left medical supplies at the hospital gate and patients could be evacuate in ambulances. But it was unclear if a plan had been put in place for evacuation through the battle zone outside, news agency added.
The situation in Al Shifa Hospital was causing concern over the past few days as they are suffering from the lack of oxygen, power, fuel, water, food and telecommunications. Nearly 7,500 Palestinians including the medical staffs, refugees and patients are believed to be trapped inside the hospital.
(With inputs from Reuters)
