The Israel Defense Forces detained Khalid Abu Samra, the head of a department at Al Shifa hospital in the Gaza Strip. AFP reported that he was among several senior hospital officials who were taken into custody, including the hospital director. The detentions appear to be part of a broader action by Israeli authorities affecting the medical facility and its leadership, prompting questions about the hospital’s operations amid ongoing tensions in the area.
Earlier updates indicated that the World Health Organization plans a mass evacuation of staff and patients from Shifa to ensure their safety. The plan called for moving people within a window of 24 to 72 hours, and a joint humanitarian mission led by WHO visited the hospital to coordinate the effort. The hospital complex currently houses 291 patients and 25 employees, with arrangements made to transfer them to Nasser Hospital and European Hospital, both located in the Gaza Strip.
According to WHO, the majority of patients at Shifa are suffering from injuries related to military conflict, including complex fractures, amputations, head injuries, burns, and chest and abdominal injuries. A significant number require ongoing medical support, with 29 patients having serious spinal injuries that leave them immobile without assistance. There are ongoing concerns about infection control and antibiotic shortages, contributing to the severity of wounds and slower recovery during this period of strain and disruption.
There are reports from Russians who previously fled the Gaza Strip about daily life in a war zone, reflecting the broader humanitarian impact on civilians and medical teams operating under such conditions. The situation at Shifa illustrates the complicated intersection of security concerns, medical care, and international aid efforts in a region already under intense pressure from conflict. — attribution: AFP