After Israel Defence Force's (IDF) raid at the second-largest hospital in Gaza, Nasser hospital has ceased to function, said World Health Organisation (WHO). WHO also said that it had not been allowed to enter the site to evaluate the situation.
"Nasser hospital in Gaza is not functional anymore, after a weeklong siege followed by the ongoing raid," WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus wrote on X.
Nasser hospital in #Gaza is not functional anymore, after a weeklong siege followed by the ongoing raid.
— Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) February 18, 2024
Both yesterday and the day before, the @WHO team was not permitted to enter the hospital to assess the conditions of the patients and critical medical needs, despite…
Both yesterday and the day before, the WHO team was not permitted to enter the hospital to assess the conditions of the patients and critical medical needs, despite reaching the hospital compound to deliver fuel alongside partners, he added.
The Gaza Health Ministry said that only four medical staff were left in the hospital trying to care for the remaining patients.
Meanwhile, the Palestinian death toll touched 28,985 on Sunday. As many as 68,883 people got injured since Israel-Hamas war on October 7.
Amid intensifying attacks, Algeria, the Arab representative on the UN Security Council, has circulated a draft resolution demanding an immediate humanitarian cease-fire in Gaza.
US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said in a statement late Saturday that the draft resolution runs counter to Washington's own efforts to end the fighting and will not be adopted.
In similar resolutions, US has used its veto with wide international support. Also, the US, Qatar and Egypt's efforts to strike a deal between both Hamas and Israel over the release of hostages has also not been fruitful yet.
Hamas has said it will not release all of the remaining hostages without Israel ending the war and withdrawing from Gaza. While Israel has made it clear that no more prisoners will be released to strengthen the Hamas troops.
Israel PM Netanyahu has also pushed back against international concern about a planned Israeli ground offensive in Rafah, saying residents will be evacuated to safer areas.
Meanwhile, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva accused Israel on Sunday of committing "genocide" against Palestinians in Gaza.
"What’s happening in the Gaza Strip isn’t a war, it’s a genocide...It’s not a war of soldiers against soldiers. It’s a war between a highly prepared army and women and children," said Lula while attending an African Union summit.
Israel termed Lula’s highly critical remarks as “shameful”. “The words of the president of Brazil are shameful and serious. No one will harm Israel’s right to defend itself. I have ordered the people of my office to summon the Brazilian ambassador for a reprimand call tomorrow,” wrote Israel’s foreign minister, Israel Katz on X.
Also Israel has formalised its opposition to “unilateral recognition” of Palestinian statehood. "Israel rejects outright international dictates regarding a permanent accord with the Palestinians. An accord, should it be reached, will only come through direct negotiations between the sides, without preconditions," read a formal statement from Netanyahu's office.
Israel will continue to oppose the unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state. Such recognition in the wake of the October 7th massacre will grant a huge, unprecedented reward to terrorism and prevent any future peace accord, it said.
