Time is ticking for ‘Israel’ over Gaza Hospital war crimes
5 Min Read
Israeli invading forces are currently raiding al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, the largest medical complex in the Strip, which is currently providing shelter for 10 thousand Palestinians.
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Palestinian children injured in an Israeli airstrike await treatment at a hospital in southern Gaza on October 17, 2023. (AFP)
The Israeli military spokesperson, dressed in full combat gear, delivered a daily war update on Tuesday from a new location within Gaza City's al-Rantisi Children's Hospital.
During the briefing, he pointed to a calendar, elevator shaft, baby bottle, and diapers, selling them as evidence of a "huge military victory" for the IOF.
Here's the big picture: The Israeli government aims to convince the world that the attacks on Gaza's major hospitals are not meant to target doctors, patients, and 10,000 displaced people including children, but to reach the "Hamas military infrastructure beneath them". This strategy represents the latest phase of the five-week Israeli propaganda which has been failing miserably, as the prevailing global opinion remains that "Israel" is committing war crimes and senselessly murdering civilians.
It is important to highlight that bombing and attacking hospitals, resulting in the death of patients, doctors, and nurses, is deemed a war crime according to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Here's how the Israeli propaganda has been failing miserably.
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) November 14, 2023
A calendar hung on the wall is claimed to be a target list.
An elevator shaft is claimed to be a tunnel used by #Palestinian Resistance fighters.
It's hard to distinguish whether "Israel" thinks everyone is dumb or… pic.twitter.com/50TZXENlXu
'Israel' faces mounting global pressure over its war crimes in Gaza
"International humanitarian law does require the protection of hospitals, of patients and of medical staff," affirmed Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong.
"Israel's" biggest supporter, US President Joe Biden urged "Israel" on Monday to adopt "less intrusive action" at al-Shifa Hospital, the largest medical facility in Gaza, amid escalating diplomatic and public pressure.
An emergency protest is happening at the White House in response to the Israeli invasion of Al Shifa Hospital in #Gaza. pic.twitter.com/ZGTrlCQuyn
— PALESTINE ONLINE 🇵🇸 (@OnlinePalEng) November 15, 2023
"We don’t want to see hospitals the subject of crossfire," US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said at his own Monday briefing. "We want to see the civilians who are sheltering in hospitals, including babies, protected."
"The fact that the military spokesman stands somewhere and says I am in an underground facility of the hospital is not enough," Dr. Guy Shalev, Executive Director of Physicians for Human Rights Israel, said by phone as quoted by Bloomberg.
'Israel' defying humanity, raiding al-Shifa hospital
Israeli invading forces are currently raiding al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, the largest medical complex in the Strip, which is currently providing shelter for 10 thousand Palestinians. The Israeli incursion has instilled fear among patients, displaced individuals, and health workers, with Dr. Ahmed El Mokhallalati, present at al-Shifa Hospital, reporting that Israeli gunfire has compelled medical staff to avoid windows for their safety.
Dr. El Mokhallalati conveyed the alarming situation: "Bombardment. Shooting around the hospital and within the hospital. It’s really horrible, you can feel that it’s very near to the hospital. And then we realised the tanks are moving around the hospital. They just parked in front of the hospital emergency department. All kinds of weapons were used around the hospital. They targeted the hospital directly. We try to avoid being near the windows."
Israeli troops inside Al Shifa hospital open fire on those refusing or unable to leave: those exiting via the rear gate under orders also shot pic.twitter.com/r2dGwymWV4
— Sarah Wilkinson (@swilkinsonbc) November 15, 2023
Simultaneously, Gaza’s government media office has issued a warning of a potential massacre at al-Shifa Hospital following the Israeli army's incursion into the medical complex. The office condemned Israeli actions, labeling them "a war crime and a crime against humanity," and held "Israel", the US, and the international community "fully responsible for the safety of thousands of people inside the facility."
Later on, the media office announced that Israeli forces killed 30 Palestinians attempting to escape the hospital.
RT @swilkinsonbc "Israeli snipers target anyone who leaves Al Shifa Hospital; around 15,000 are trapped inside, living numbers unknown @Malcolm_kmr pic.twitter.com/EtgsGepfQQ"
— Richard Hardigan (@RichardHardigan) November 15, 2023
Horrific reports are coming out of the hospital, with Al Mayadeen's correspondent affirming that the IOF transformed al-Shifa Hospital into a military barracks, and a large number of occupation forces entered al-Shifa wards, detaining and handcuffing many doctors and refugees.
The situation is worsening by the minute with reports that the IOF bombed a warehouse containing medicines and medical equipment in the hospital. It is worth noting that communications are cut off in al-Shifa Hospital, and Israeli occupation forces control information about the situation there.
RT @swilkinsonbc "Israeli troops opened fire at Palestinian people who went through a corridor that the army told them was a safe exit from Al Shifa Hospital pic.twitter.com/jzMvsP3dUe"
— Richard Hardigan (@RichardHardigan) November 15, 2023
Meanwhile, the IOF admitted that no indication of Israeli captives currently held at al-Shifa Hospital.
"Death sentence"
The war on hospitals in Gaza is ongoing and not limited to al-Shifa Hospital. On Monday, the United Nations’ Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported that nearly all hospitals in northern Gaza are non-operational due to a shortage of electricity, medical supplies, oxygen, as well as a lack of food and water, exacerbated by ongoing bombardments and raids.
Israeli invading forces have forced all hospitals in the northern region to evacuate. The World Health Organization has strongly opposed this move, stating that it would be tantamount to a "death sentence," as the entire medical infrastructure is in a state of collapse, and hospitals in southern Gaza are unable to accommodate additional patients.
