Hundreds of people being treated in Gaza hospitals are facing ‘death threat’ as Israeli forces are accused of targeting hospitals. Gaza medical officials accused Israel of striking near hospitals on Friday, while Israel claimed it was the result of a misfired Palestinian rocket.
Reportedly, Israel missile had struck the courtyard and the obstetrics department of Shifa Hospital, where tens of thousands people are sheltering.
Israel had accused Hamas fighters of hiding in hospitals and using the hospital complex as its main command centre. The claim has been denied by militant group and hospital staff, who said the forces are making pretext to strike it.
The director of the Shifa hospital told Al Jazeera that Israel demanded the facility be evacuated, but he said there was nowhere for such a large number of patients to go.
The Health Ministry said one person had been killed and several were wounded in the strike. Another strike near the Al-Nasr Medical Center, which includes two hospitals for children, killed two people, according to the ministry.
According to Gaza health officials, strikes were carried out in four hospitals.
Palestinian death toll crossed 11,000 since the Hamas attack on October 7.
‘Far too many’ Palestinians died
While speaking in New Delhi, US secretary of state Antony Blinken said 'far too many' Palestinians have died since the conflict escalated. He also added that Israel’s steps to minimise civilian casualities is ‘appreciated’ but it is not enough.
“Far too many Palestinians have been killed, far too many have suffered these past weeks,” said Bliken adding that everything possible should be done to prevent them harm and maximise the assistance they need.
Strikes after strikes
According to Hamas, an Israeli strike on the Al-Shifa compound has killed 13 people. "Thirteen martyrs and dozens wounded in an Israeli strike on al-Shifa compound today” in central Gaza City, a government statement said.
Meanwhile, Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah has claimed that the Israeli fire killed seven of its fighters.
Palestinian evacuees said thousands of people sheltering at Shifa hospital fled after strikes and doctors there unreachable.
As many as 21 hospitals had gone out of service and 47 health centres were out of services, added the ministry. Meanwhile, World Health Organisation spokesperson Margaret Harris said 20 of Gaza's 36 hospitals are no longer functioning, including a pediatric hospital where children had been receiving care such as dialysis and life support things that you cannot possibly evacuate them safely with.
Amid intensifying Israel-Hamas conflict, Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani met with Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh on Friday to discuss recent developments in Gaza.
"The leaders met in the presence of ministers and other senior officials from both countries to focus on efforts to stop Israel's aggression against Gaza, the allowance of aid and other ways to support security and stability in the region," Qatar's Emiri Diwan office said in a statement.
