Israel Continues Attacking Hospitals In Khan Younis; US Calls To Protect Civilians
Israel’s war on Gaza is continuing in its most brutal form. The occupation force is now reigning bombs on Khan Younis, which was a supposed “safe area” for the Palestinian civilians, as said by Israeli defence force during the early days of far when they were leveling down northern Gaza. Thousands of Gazans fled from north to Khan Younis, which is in south of the Strip upon Israel’s ‘warning’. The indiscriminate bombing has targeted hospitals, schools, homes, and UN installation since day one.
Now the IDF tanks are closing in on Al-Aamal hospital, and Al-Khair hospital in Khan Younis, which are two of the very few hospitals still functioning in the besieged enclave. IDF claim that Khan Younis is now the main headquarters of the Palestinian group Hamas. Residents near to the hospital told AFP that the bombing on the hospitals was the most intense bombing they witnessed since the beginning of the war.
The Palestinian Red Cresent Society (PRCS) reported that its ambulance centers were attacked, preventing the first responders from reaching the wounded. It also reported about losing contact with staff at its Khan Younis main base.
🚨Urgent: PRCS ambulances unable to reach the wounded in Khan Yunis. Israeli occupation forces are besieging the PRCS ambulance center, and targeting anyone attempting to move in the area.#Gaza #NotATarget ❌#IHL pic.twitter.com/NXOT2Zzvlv
— PRCS (@PalestineRCS) January 22, 2024
“The occupation force has overnight launched an unprecedented ground and air war on Khan Younis. People are trapped near Mawasi, people are trapped in Al-Amal Hospital, in Al-Aqsa University. People are carrying the dead and wounded on donkey carts”, said medic inside Nasser Hospital, as quoted by Al Jazeera.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of World Health Organization (WHO) said he is “deeply concerned” about the bombing in the vicinity of Al-Amal Hospital. He said, “Not only do they put patients and people seeking safety within these facilities at risk, but they also prevent newly injured people outside the hospitals from being reached and receiving care”.
We are deeply concerned by reports of continuous fighting in the vicinity of Al-Amal Hospital, and today”s raid at Al-Kheir Hospital in #Gaza are deeply worrisome.
Not only do they put patients and people seeking safety within these facilities at risk, but they also prevent…
— Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) January 22, 2024
Meanwhile, US called for Israel to protect innocent civilians in hospitals, medical staff and patients. The remarks from US National security council spokesperson John Kirby came after reports from Gaza Health Ministry said about Israel bombing hospitals in the southern Gaza. Gaza Health Ministry spokesperson Ashraf al Qidra told Reuters about the Israeli occupation force stormed Al-Khair hospital and arrested medical staff. Israel hasn’t commented on the hospital situation.
Palestine has become beyond catastrophic. Death toll has surpassed 25,000. With more than 65,000 wounded, as said by Gaza Health Ministry. More than 875 percentage of the total population in the besieged coastal enclave are now caged in two tows, Deir el-Balah and Rafah, north and south of Khan Younis, in United Nations-run camps, while extreme hunger and dealt infectious diseases are knocking on the door.
