Conflict in Gaza escalates, Nasser Hospital severely impacted by fighting

• Israeli special forces operated in Nasser Hospital, Gaza's second largest hospital.

• Hospital rendered non-functional, unable to handle critical care.

• About 25 medical staff remain, electricity cut off, patients needing urgent care.

Residential buildings, destroyed in Israeli strikes during the conflict, lie in ruin, in Gaza City

Reuters

Recent developments in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas have sparked concerns over the dire situation unfolding in Gaza. Israeli special forces conducted operations inside Nasser Hospital, Gaza's second-largest hospital, which has now been rendered non-functional according to Palestinian health officials and the World Health Organization. The hospital is unable to provide critical care to patients due to the impact of the operations, with only 25 medical staff remaining on the premises. Electricity to the complex has been cut off, making the situation even more critical. The World Health Organization has identified 20 out of 200 patients at the hospital as requiring urgent transfer to other medical facilities, but this has yet to be facilitated.

Additionally, approximately 70 medical workers have been detained as part of the Israeli operation at the hospital. Israeli forces did not find the bodies of hostages they believed to be at the hospital, but they discovered weapons caches, vehicles allegedly carrying weapons, and Hamas insignia. Elsewhere in Gaza, there have been reports of strikes resulting in casualties, with 13 Palestinians killed near Rafah, according to local health officials.

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Hospital rendered non-functional, unable to handle critical care.

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Israeli special forces operated in Nasser Hospital, Gaza's second largest hospital.

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About 25 medical staff remain, electricity cut off, patients needing urgent care.

Central Gaza has also been heavily affected by Israeli military strikes, with Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital reporting at least 68 deaths from strikes on a single day. This escalation of violence has prompted residents in southern Gaza, particularly in Rafah, to flee north towards central Gaza in search of safety despite ongoing intense bombardment. The conflict continues to intensify, with civilians bearing the brunt of the violence and facing increasing challenges in accessing healthcare and essential services. The situation remains fluid and calls for urgent attention and efforts to address the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza.