The Gaza Health Ministry says that more than 500 civilians have lost their lives following an Israeli airstrike on the Al-Ahli Arabi Baptist Hospital. The statement from the Hamas-run health ministry also note that the casualty figures may rise as “hundreds of victims are still under the rubble.
A Gaza civil defense chief had earlier told Al Jazeera that the number of casualties from the hospital strike was 300. However, the Gaza health ministry has updated the figure to 500 as more casualties are being rushed to hospital.
The Israeli military has since denied the strike instead blaming it on a ‘misfired Palestinian rocket’ without presenting any evidence.
This has been described as a major escalation yet of the already ‘severely-intense’ situation and calls for ceasefire have been sounded.
“They have killed patients and civilians who were seeking safety at the hospital.”
Palestine’s minister of health, Maii al-Kaila, said that Israel’s bombing of the al-Ahli al-Arab hospital in Gaza was the ‘bloodiest massacre against our people.’
In a statement, she said “the occupation bombed the hospital killing hundreds, mainly women and children. The effects of the massacre are beyond description. The occupation has violated all humanitarian laws, charters and norm.
Kaila also appealed to countries around the world and the UN, saying “save our people from this deliberate genocide.”
At least 500 people have been killed in the targeting of the hospital, with hundreds of others left wounded. See the image slide below showing photos from the scene of the hospital attack:
Warning: Some of the images may be distressing and user discretion is advised.
The hospital received threats by Israel to clear out or be bombed, the Palestinian ministry of health said.
The ministry added that the hospital was hit with a warning strike a few days ago.
Media reports state that the Israeli army had warned regarding evacuating the Al-Ahli Hospital as well as five other hospitals.
Russia and the United Arab Emirates(U.A.E.) have requested an urgent United Nations Security Council(UNSC) meeting on Wednesday following the strike. An earlier resolution which was backed by Russia was blocked by the United States(U.S.) and its allies, a move which Vasily Nebenzia, the Russian ambassador to the U.N. called the “Western bloc of countries’ ego.”
The Russian-draft resolution called for an immediate ceasefire of the Israel-Gaza conflict which is now in its eleventh day. “We regret that the council once again finds itself hostage to the ego and selfish intentions of the western bloc of countries. It is the only reason why it is not able to send a clear, strong and collective message aimed at de-escalation,” Nebenzia concluded.
Cancellation
The devastating hospital strike comes on the eve of U.S. President Joe Biden’s visit to the region on Wednesday as a show of “support” to Israel. Biden was also set to meet with the ‘Quartet’ which is made up of regional Arab leaders who included the Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas, King Abdullah of Jordan and Lebanese leader.
The Palestinian President, Mr. Mahmoud Abbas announced that he has cancelled his planned meeting with Biden and has been reported to be back home in Ramallah, Palestine where protesters are reportedly already on the streets condemning the Israeli strike on the hospital.
Get the latest updates from Israel-Gaza war via Al Jazeera English’s Youtube live channel below:
The humanitarian situation has been deteriorating since Israel placed a total blockade on the Gaza strip and ordering more than 1.1 million people to leave Northern Gaza, a move which the U.N. and Russia among others condemned.
Despite Israel’s claim of allowing water to the residents, humanitarian aid groups say the residents still don’t have water as Israel hasn’t allowed electricity hence water cannot be pumped and distributed within the region leaving many to reportedly use ‘unclean’ water raising fears of outbreak of water-borne diseases.
The situations in hospitals and medical facilities is also said to be ‘dire’ with surgeons reportedly carrying out surgeries without ‘pain-killers’ as Israel is yet to allow humanitarian aid or aid of any kind into Gaza since it imposed a blockade.
ICBNews will continue updating you on the situation in Gaza as and when we get any new leads. You may also follow the updates on our social media pages.
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