Gaza Hospital's Grim Reality Unveiled
The bustling Shifa Hospital, located in Gaza City, is currently at the epicenter of an intense battle between Israel's forces and Hamas militants. Known as "Dar al Shifa," or "House of Healing," the facility was once renowned for its 500-bed capacity, advanced equipment like MRI scans, dialysis, and an intensive care unit. Regrettably, it has been transformed into a horrifying scene, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), which stated it was "almost a cemetery" with corpses piling up, and dogs are beginning to scavenge the remains.
Hamas' questionable tactics
Israeli sources have claimed that Hamas not only utilizes the hospital for medical purposes but also has constructed a vast underground command center beneath it, connected by an extensive network of tunnels. Hamas militants routinely exploit civilians as human shields, launching rockets from residential areas and storing weapons near mosques, schools, and hospitals. The militant group expects these places of protection will seldom be targeted due to international norms and respect for humanitarian law.
Operação Escudo Defensivo: A Double-Edged Sword
Despite Hamas' accusations, Israel has sent incubators for infants and offered to evacuate the hospital staff and patients; however, Hamas maintains that Israeli forces have fired on evacuees, claiming that the evacuation is too risky for the most vulnerable patients. Regrettably, Hamas has yet to provide evidence supporting their claims.
Understaffed and undersupplied
For weeks, the medical personnel at the Shifa Hospital have been treating patients, including children, without anesthesia due to a lack of supplies. The situation became so dire that the Ministry of Health, controlled by Hamas, published a photo of around a dozen premature babies lying in bed, wrapped in blankets, with a spokesman lamenting their struggle to stay alive amidst the hospital's catastrophic condition.
The human cost
On Saturday, the hospital stated it had run out of fuel and that at least 32 patients, including three infants, had perished. An additional 36 babies were at risk of dying due to non-operational life-saving equipment. The information is challenging to verify or confirm, but the Israeli army announced that they could evacuate these babies if Hamas allows it.
Hospitals' special protection under international law
Hospitals are protected by international law during a war. However, they can lose this protection if they are being used as hiding places for fighters or as weapons caches. Throughout the conflict, Israel has released photos and videos showing weapons and military installations inside or near mosques, schools, and hospitals. Recently, Israel's top military spokesman, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, revealed a Hamas weapons cache found in the basement of the Rantisi Children's Hospital in Gaza.
The Middle East conflict escalates
The Israeli-Hamas conflict has resulted in the death of around 1,200 people, including infants, and more than 200 abductions. Hamas is believed to be using tunnels for cover. Since the beginning of the conflict, tens of thousands of Palestinians have sought shelter in the Shifa hospital grounds; however, due to the ongoing house-to-house fighting, most people have flocked to the south.
Ambivalent Israeli response
In a distressing turn of events, the Israeli army has stated that it has delivered fuel to the hospital in plastic containers, but it was not collected on Monday. Israeli authorities are convinced that Hamas terrorist groups are preventing the medical staff from collecting the containers.
Unresolved allegations
Under international law, hospitals are granted special protection during a war, but if fighters use them for hiding places or weapons caches, that protection can be jeopardized. Throughout the conflict, Israel has released photos and videos showing weapons and military installations in or near mosques, schools, and hospitals.
Humanitarian support
Women, children, and elderly individuals are among the thousands seeking refuge in the Shifa Hospital due to the ongoing Gaza conflict. The hospital, despite its dire situation, has continued to provide emergency medical care.
The US President, Joe Biden, has requested that the Israeli armed forces exercise restraint during their operations and called for the protection of the hospital. Lt. Col. Richard Hecht, an Israeli army spokesman, has acknowledged the sensitivity of the situation, but has urged Hamas to refrain from exploiting the hospital for military purposes.
In conclusion, the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip has resulted in severe damage at the Shifa Hospital, which has been used by Hamas for military purposes according to Israeli sources. US President Joe Biden has called for the protection of the hospital and urged the Israeli armed forces to be less aggressive. Despite publicized efforts to deliver aid to the hospital, its delivery has been repeatedly delayed, leading to growing concerns about its capacity to provide essential medical care to those in need.
