Gaza's premature babies sent to Egypt amid hospital crisis
Premature babies evacuated from Gaza’s main hospital arrive in Egypt for treatment as Palestinian health officials report injuries in another hospital besieged by Israeli tanks
Prematurely born babies from Gaza's main hospital were transported to Egypt for treatment on Monday, while Palestinian health authorities reported casualties in another hospital surrounded by Israeli tanks. Over two dozen babies were expected to cross, as confirmed by the Palestinian Red Crescent and Egypt's Al Qahera TV. The infants, initially in Al Shifa hospital in north Gaza, faced challenges due to medical service disruptions caused by power cuts.
Israeli forces took control of Al Shifa last week to search for a Hamas tunnel network. Evacuations occurred over the weekend, with conflicting reports on whether they were voluntary or forced. Al Qahera's live footage showed medical staff transferring babies from ambulances to mobile incubators, destined for Egypt after stabilization in a Rafah hospital.
In a separate incident, an Indonesia-funded hospital in Beit Lahia, Gaza, faced artillery fire, resulting in casualties. The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the situation, while Palestinian health officials reported evacuation difficulties.
Concerns arose about the fate of hospital staff, patients, and displaced residents. Indonesia's foreign ministry lost contact with three volunteers at the hospital, established in 2016. Despite Israel's evacuation order for northern Gaza, civilians, seeking refuge in hospitals, remained amid shortages of fuel and medicine due to the ongoing siege.
In the south, where displaced Gazans sheltered, Israeli strikes on houses in Rafah led to casualties, with no immediate Israeli response. The overall situation in Gaza remained dire, with ongoing evacuations, shortages, and escalating tensions.
WHAT HAPPENED
Hamas' military wing, the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, announced that they launched a comprehensive attack against Israel called "Al-Aqsa Flood" on the morning of Oct. 7.
While thousands of rockets were fired from Gaza towards Israel, armed groups entered the settlements in the region. The Israeli army also launched an attack on the Gaza Strip with dozens of warplanes. The Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza announced that Israel killed 13,000 people, including 5,000 children, and 3,500 women. It injured at least 32,000 people in its attacks on Gaza.
The administration said the number of missing persons crossed 6,000, with most of them suspected of lying under the rubble of the fallen buildings.
It was reported that 1,400 Israelis, including 324 soldiers, were killed and 5,132 Israelis were wounded in the attacks from Gaza.
The Israeli army hit Damascus and Aleppo airports. As the Middle East is once again turning into a bloodbath, a deadline has been set for nearly 2.5 million Palestinians to leave the blockaded Gaza.
In Israel’s attacks on Gaza, 52 journalists were killed.
In the clashes between the Israeli army and Hezbollah on the Israel-Lebanon border since Oct. 8, 55 Hezbollah members and 4 civilians, one of whom was a journalist, were killed. Three Israeli soldiers and one Israeli civilian were killed in the attacks organized by Lebanon.
Most recently, Israel attacked the Jabalia Refugee Camp in Gaza, killing civilians.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that he was breaking off all contact with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu because of Israeli attacks on civilians in the Gaza Strip.
Source: News Agencies
