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Nasser Hospital siege

Coordinates: 31°20′52.18″N 34°17′35.73″E / 31.3478278°N 34.2932583°E / 31.3478278; 34.2932583
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Nasser Hospital siege
Part of the Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip
Date21 January 2024 – present
Location
Nasser Hospital, Khan Younis
31°20′52.18″N 34°17′35.73″E / 31.3478278°N 34.2932583°E / 31.3478278; 34.2932583

During the Israel–Hamas war, the Nasser Hospital faced multiple attacks, including a siege and raid in January and February 2024. The hospital siege by Israeli forces created severe shortages of food, anesthesia, and painkillers. Reports emerged of Israeli snipers targeting individuals outside the hospital. Despite international calls for restraint, the IDF ordered the evacuation of displaced people inside the hospital on 13 February 2024. On 15 February, Israeli soldiers raided the hospital.

Background

The Nasser Hospital was attacked multiple times during the Israel-Hamas War prior to the start of the siege. An Israeli shooting at the maternity ward of the hospital on 17 December 2023 killed a girl and wounded three others.[1] The girl was a 13-year-old amputee, Donia Abu Mohsen, who had survived a previous Israeli airstrike that had killed her entire family.[2][3] In late-December 2023, Richard Peeperkorn, a WHO representative, stated 4,000 displaced internally displaced people were at risk as the Israeli military pursued operations at the hospital.[4]

Siege

In early 2024, as Israeli forces advanced deeper south, bombing in the areas around the hospital intensified. This sparked worries that the hospital may be forced to shut down.[5] On 26 January 2024, the Health Ministry stated Nasser hospital was out of food, anaesthetics, and painkillers due to an Israeli siege, stating, "There are 150 health personnel, 350 patients, and hundreds of displaced families in the Nasser Medical Complex in catastrophic conditions of starvation, targeting, and lack of treatment".[6] On 27 January, Hani Mahmoud, an Al Jazeera journalist, stated people at Nasser were experiencing "exactly what happened... when the largest facilities like al-Shifa Hospital and the Indonesian Hospital came under attack."[7] A 40-year-old woman was killed by an Israeli sniper outside the hospital on 7 February.[8]

On 8 February, a doctor was reportedly shot and wounded while working in the operating room.[9] A drone strike reportedly killed one person and wounded several others the same day.[10] Paramedics were unable to leave the hospital due to Israeli snipers.[11] On 9 February, Israeli snipers outside the hospital were reportedly shooting at "every moving object".[12] An incident recorded and circulated online showed a doctor risking her life to save a young man wounded by Israeli snipers at the hospital gate.[13] Doctors Without Borders stated on 10 February that Israeli forces were firing at people inside the hospital.[14] Israeli tank and artillery fire reportedly hit the upper floor of the hospital.[15] A man was killed by an Israeli sniper on 11 February on hospital grounds.[16] Seven people in the hospital were reportedly killed by Israeli snipers on 12 February.[17]

Evacuation

On 13 February, the IDF ordered displaced people inside the complex to evacuate the hospital.[18][19] The same day, snipers killed three people at the hospital.[20] The Gaza Health Ministry stated, "The displaced people are being shot while they are leaving, and people are being killed or injured".[21] Because the hospital had run out of fuel for its generator, sewage flooded parts of the hospital.[22] UNOCHA reported bodies of killed people had been laying outside the hospital for several days because of the danger of Israeli snipers.[23] On 14 February, Israeli soldiers reportedly continued to fire on the facility.[24] The Health Ministry reported there were 273 patients unable to move and 327 companions remaining in the hospital.[25]

According to The Intercept, Israeli soldiers forced a young Palestinian man, handcuffed by zip-ties, to warn the displaced people to evacuate the hospital, and then shot and killed the young man after he had delivered the message.[26] The IDF set up face-recognition cameras to scan the individuals who evacuated the hospital.[27] The IDF destroyed the hospital's northern exit gate and blocked it with sand and debris.[28]

Raid

On 14 February, the IDF stated that Nasser was being used to hold Israeli hostages.[29] Israeli soldiers entered the hospital on 15 February 2024.[30] Following the raid, the IDF stated there was no evidence hostages had been held at Nasser.[31][a] The Gaza Health Ministry stated that 95 medics, 191 patients, and 165 displaced people were being held in a single building.[33]

A survivor of the raid stated, "They destroyed the walls surrounding us as well as the doctor’s room. They ordered us to leave and fired at us, fired bombs and rockets on our heads from the top".[34] Verified film from the raid showed Israeli tanks entering the hospital grounds.[35] Israeli forces raided the maternity ward and destroyed two ambulances; one MSF staff member was missing, and Al Jazeera reported civilians were attacked both inside the hospital and outside as they tried to flee.[36] Mass arrests were reported, and attack drones were used to follow and shoot at children.[37]

Reactions

The Gaza Media Office called Israel's raid on the hospital a "blatant war crime" and stated, "We hold the Israeli occupation and the international community and the United States fully responsible".[38]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Describing the situation, Al Jazeera stated, "This is just the latest of the series of the Israeli claims that have not had evidence to back them up with."[32]

References

  1. ^ "Palestinian girl killed in Israeli attack on maternity ward". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  2. ^ Zayara, Sami; Shapiro, Emily (December 19, 2023). "12-year-old girl killed at Gaza hospital weeks after she said, 'I only want ... the war to end'". ABC News.
  3. ^ Khaled, Mai; Saleh, Heba (November 29, 2023). "Gaza's children fight to survive amid wreckage of Israel-Hamas war". Financial Times.
  4. ^ Eloraby, Seham. "Raided Gaza hospital not functioning, patients evacuated- WHO". Reuters. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  5. ^ Burke, Jason; Livingstone, Helen (19 January 2024). "Fears grow for largest remaining hospital in Gaza as Israeli forces bombard Khan Younis". The Guardian.
  6. ^ "Siege on Nasser Hospital continues for fifth day". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
  7. ^ Mahmoud, Hani. "'Systematic attacks' on healthcare facilities continue despite ICJ ruling". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
  8. ^ Mahmoud, Hani. "Palestinians 'desperate for a halt to this madness'". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
  9. ^ "Nasser Hospital doctor sniped while in operating room". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
  10. ^ "Drone attack kills civilian at Nasser Hospital". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
  11. ^ Mahmoud, Hani. "Paramedics pinned down by Israeli snipers at Nasser Hospital". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
  12. ^ "Israeli snipers shooting at 'every moving object'". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
  13. ^ "Palestinian doctor risks her life to save wounded man". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
  14. ^ "MSF: Shots fired at people inside Nasser Medical Complex". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
  15. ^ "Israeli tanks, artillery fire at upper floors of medical centre in Khan Younis". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
  16. ^ "Palestinian on hospital grounds killed by Israeli sniper". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
  17. ^ "Israeli snipers kill seven in Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis: Ministry". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
  18. ^ Srivastava, Mehul. "Israeli military starts evacuation of Gaza's last big hospital". Financial Times. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
  19. ^ "MSF calls on Israel to protect people at Nasser Hospital". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
  20. ^ "Israeli snipers kill three people at Nasser Hospital: Health Ministry". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
  21. ^ "Health Ministry sounds alarm on Nasser Hospital". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
  22. ^ "No 'option for safety' in Rafah as Israel prepares attack". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
  23. ^ "Bodies of Palestinians killed outside Nasser Hospital can't be reached: UN". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
  24. ^ "Medical workers and patients still trapped in Nasser Hospital". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
  25. ^ "Health Ministry: State of panic persists among those present at Nasser Hospital". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
  26. ^ Chekuru, Kavitha. "Israel Sent Palestinian Prisoner to Tell Nasser Hospital to Evacuate". The Intercept. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
  27. ^ Mahmoud, Hani. "Face-recognition cameras set up at Nasser Hospital gate". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
  28. ^ Mahmoud, Hani. "Nasser Hospital siege intensifies as Israeli forces seal it off". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
  29. ^ "Israeli military says 'military activity' at Nasser Hospital must 'cease immediately'". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
  30. ^ Lieber, Margherita Stancati, Abeer Ayyoub and Dov. "Israeli Forces Enter Gaza Hospital to Search for Hostages". WSJ. Retrieved 15 February 2024.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  31. ^ Kubovich, Yaniv. "Israel: No Evidence So Far That Hamas Held Hostages in Gaza's Nasser Hospital". Haaretz. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
  32. ^ Salhut, Hamdah. "Israel provides no evidence justifying assault on Nasser Hospital". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  33. ^ "Israel confining hundreds of people at Nasser Hospital to one building: Official". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  34. ^ "Palestinians expelled from Nasser Hospital recount hardship". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  35. ^ "Nasser doctor films Israeli tanks inside medical complex". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  36. ^ "What you need to know about the storming of Nasser Hospital". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  37. ^ Mahmoud, Hani. "Israeli attack drones terrorise women, children evacuating from Nasser Hospital". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  38. ^ "'War crime': Gaza authorities say Israeli attack on Nasser Hospital shameful". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
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