The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Friday it was seeking access to Gaza’s largest functioning hospital, Nasser Hospital, following an Israeli raid.
WHO spokesperson Tarik Jasarevic said, “There are still critically injured and sick patients inside the hospital,” emphasizing the urgent need to deliver fuel for life-saving services. He added, “We are trying to gain access because people in the Nasser medical complex require assistance.”
The Israeli military defended the raid as “precise and limited,” citing intelligence suggesting Hamas militants might be holding hostages within the hospital. Israeli special forces executed the operation after a prolonged siege, aiming to apprehend suspects.
However, Hamas denied any involvement in Nasser Hospital, with Muhammad Nazzal from the Hamas Political Bureau saying that the organization has no presence in the hospital.
The Ministry of Health spokesperson, Ashraf Al-Qidra, said that Israeli forces had turned Nasser Medical Complex into a military barracks, with bulldozers demolishing its southern wall and digging up mass graves within the complex.
Israeli forces compelled hundreds of civilians to evacuate the hospital, previously used as a shelter, leading to smoke, destruction of the perimeter wall, and gunfire.
Doctors Without Borders (Medecins Sans Frontieres – MSF) urgently called for a halt to the attack, reporting casualties and emphasizing the endangerment of medical staff and patients. Despite prior assurances from Israeli Forces, the hospital was shelled, leading to the evacuation of displaced individuals on February 13.
MSF staff faced challenges as they had to flee the hospital, leaving patients behind. MSF urged the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) to cease the assault, emphasizing the safety and protection of those affected.
On Thursday, Israeli special forces re-entered Nasser Hospital, with IDF spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari maintaining the claim that “Hamas terrorists are likely hiding behind injured civilians inside Nasser hospital.”
(Inputs from agencies)