Israel yesterday faced mounting international pressure over the rising civilian death toll and destruction of hospitals in Gaza, as it pressed on with its war against Hamas militants in the besieged Palestinian territory.
The UN Security Council yesterday was set to vote on a new resolution calling for an “urgent and sustainable cessation of hostilities” in Gaza.
The deadliest ever Gaza war began with unprecedented attacks by Hamas on Oct. 7, when the group killed 1,139 people, mostly civilians, and abducted about 250, updated Israeli data shows.
Photo: AFP
The health ministry in the Hamas-run territory said that more than 18,800 people, mostly women and children, have been killed in Israel’s campaign in Gaza. It said dozens were killed in Israeli strikes on Sunday.
Following months of fierce bombardment and fighting, most of Gaza’s population has been displaced, and people are grappling with shortages of fuel, food, water and medicine.
Fewer than one-third of Gaza’s hospitals are partly functioning, the UN said, with the WHO on Sunday denouncing the impact of Israeli operations on two hospitals in the north of the territory.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the agency was “appalled by the effective destruction” of the Kamal Adwan hospital, where Israeli forces carried out an operation against Hamas. Outside the hospital courtyard, which showed tank and bulldozer tracks, Abu Mohammed, who came to look for his son, stood crying.
“I don’t know how I will find him,” he said, pointing to the debris.
The Israeli army pulled out of the hospital on Sunday after an operation lasting several days, claiming it had been used as a command and control center by Hamas.
Israel said that before entering the hospital it had negotiated safe passage for the evacuation of most of the people inside.
The WHO also said Israeli bombing had reduced the emergency department at al-Shifa hospital to “a bloodbath.”
The Hamas-run health ministry said an Israeli strike on Sunday hit Nasser hospital in southern Gaza’s main city of Khan Yunis, killing one person and injuring seven others.
The ministry said that Israeli forces had also stormed al-Awda hospital in northern Gaza on Sunday and detained medical staff following several days of siege and bombing.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday again vowed to “fight until the end,” promising to achieve the aims of eliminating Hamas, freeing all hostages and ensuring that Gaza would never again become “a center for terrorism.”
Near Gaza’s northern border crossing at the Israeli city of Erez, the Israeli army said it had uncovered the biggest Hamas tunnel so far.
A photographer reported that the tunnel was large enough for small vehicles to use.
Israel said the tunnel cost millions of dollars and took years to construct, featuring rails, electricity, drainage and a communications network.
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