Over the course of the week, Israeli forces pressed toward the center of Gaza City, with indications that the aim was to reach the Al Shifa Hospital complex, long seen as a central health hub on the Strip. By dawn on Friday, reports indicated that the operation reached its stated objective, culminating in a direct attack that left thirteen people dead and dozens wounded, according to the Gaza Government Communications Office, which is controlled by Hamas.
In the same period, Israeli tanks reportedly shifted positions and surrounded facilities linked to children’s hospitals near Al Rantisi and Al Nasser. The reasons behind these actions were framed by regional authorities as a move that endangers thousands of patients, medical staff, and displaced residents who, according to the health spokespersons, are trapped without water or food and face imminent danger.
The Israeli military has argued that the operations target Hamas infrastructure, including underground networks linked to the organization, and that the Al Shifa complex houses or sits above a major underground facility tied to Hamas’ military planning.
“Big disaster”
Mai al Kaila, the health minister of the Palestinian Authority, warned that the actions amount to a crime against hospitals and medical personnel. He described the trend as a continuous pattern of blocking fuel and medical supplies and, most recently, direct hospital bombardment at dawn, predicting a grave humanitarian outcome.
Across the region, property damage has been extensive while many hospitals struggle to maintain operations. With fuel shortages and what is described as a near-total siege restricting gasoline access, at least 18 of roughly 35 hospitals have been rendered nonfunctional or severely impaired by the attacks.