As the 139th day of the Israeli genocide in Gaza concludes, the Palestinian Resistance, in all its factions in Gaza, continues to confront Israeli aggression that keeps targeting civilians and carrying out massacres en masse. 

Initially, the al-Qassam Brigades announced the targeting of an IOF gathering with mortar shells in a joint operation with the Mujahideen Brigades. Al-Qassam also announced the targeting of an Israeli Merkava tank with an al-Yasin-105 anti-armor RPG, south of the al-Zaytoun neighborhood in Gaza City.

The Brigades also revealed that its fighters have carried out 58 sniping operations since October 7, 34 of which were conducted using the homegrown Ghoul rifle. 

In the al-Zaytoun neighborhood as well, the al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of the Islamic Jihad Movement, bombed a gathering of enemy soldiers in the vicinity of Ma'sarat Ashour and engaged in fierce confrontations against the IOF using machine guns. The Brigades also sniped an Israeli soldier in the al-Amal neighborhood, west of Khan Younis. 

Its forces also launched attacks at the "Mefalsim" and "Nir Am" settlements, located in the Gaza envelope, using a missile launcher. 

Al-Nasser Salah al-Din Brigades, the military wing of the Popular Resistance Committees, struck Israeli gatherings and sites in northern Gaza using 107 missiles. 

More confrontations across Gaza

On his part, the Al Mayadeen correspondent in Gaza reported that fierce clashes took place between resistance fighters from various factions and the occupation forces inside the Al-Zaytoun neighborhood in Gaza City.

It was also stated that the occupation aircraft targeted various areas in the northern Gaza Strip, the Shujaiya neighborhood in particular. Our correspondent also reported that enemy aircraft targeted the Jabalia and Beit Hanoun camps. Several martyrs were killed in Beit Lahia following Israeli airstrikes that targeted and collapsed a home while civilians were inside. 

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A resistance source from Gaza told Al Mayadeen that “for the third day [in the North] in a row the occupation forces failed to advance towards the depth of the al-Zaytoun neighborhood,” noting that the occupation utilized more than 70 vehicles, in addition to an armored infantry faction of about 500 soldiers. In response, the resistance confronts them using sniper weapons, highly effective side charges, and anti-armor charges.

The source added that “Despite the raids and violent artillery shelling, hundreds of citizens are still in their homes and refused to follow evacuation orders.” He also spoke about the occupation preventing ambulance crews from evacuating the martyrs and wounded, whether from homes or streets.

In central Gaza, an Al Mayadeen correspondent reported the sounding of a loud explosion that shook the Nuseirat camp, as well as Israeli airstrikes targeting a civilian home in al-Zawayda, resulting in several injuries who were transported to al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital. 

This was in addition to recording an air attack from Israeli helicopters that opened fire towards the western areas of Khan Younis, in addition to artillery shelling and the bombing of residential homes that were exposed. 

The IOF withdraws from Nasser Hospital

However, there was a complete withdrawal of the Israeli occupation forces from the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis, according to an Al Mayadeen correspondent in Gaza.

This comes after the IOF had rendered it completely dysfunctional in the week that preceded. 

World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has stated that Nasser Hospital in Gaza, the second largest hospital in Gaza, is no longer functional due to a week-long siege by Israeli forces followed by relentless bombings.

Despite attempts by the WHO team to assess patient conditions and critical medical needs, they were denied entry to the hospital compound for two consecutive days, he added.

Nasser hospital in #Gaza is not functional anymore, after a weeklong siege followed by the ongoing raid.

Both yesterday and the day before, the @WHO team was not permitted to enter the hospital to assess the conditions of the patients and critical medical needs, despite…

— Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) February 18, 2024

Tedros affirmed that approximately 200 patients remain in the hospital, with at least 20 requiring urgent referral to other healthcare facilities, emphasizing the patient's right to medical referral.

He also stressed that delays in access and care pose a significant threat to patients' lives, underscoring the urgent need for facilitated access to patients and the hospital.

“The cost of delays will be paid by patients’ lives,” he cautioned.