The Israeli Army breaks into the besieged Nasser hospital, the largest in southern Gaza

First modification: 02/15/2024 – 13:54

4 min

Chaos, screams and shots in dark corridors, which are covered in dust and smoke amidst the bursts of Israeli artillery. These are the scenes captured this Thursday, February 15, in a video inside the Nasser hospital, the main hospital in southern Gaza, and rebroadcast by the Reuters news network.

The hospital's maternity ward, orthopedic unit and emergency room were attacked. “Dozens of people have been injured in the attacks and some victims have been injured more than once (…) All medical personnel were detained, with their hands tied behind their backs,” reported a journalist from the Arab network 'Al Jazeera'. .

There is “the presence of Israeli soldiers inside the facilities (…) At the same time, there is heavy fire from tanks and machine guns,” he added.

Shortly after, the army's main spokesman, Daniel Hagari, acknowledged the incursion and assured that it was a “precise and limited” operation, which was based on “credible” information that Hamas had hidden in the facilities there and maintained hostages there, so the bodies of some kidnapped people could still be in the hospital.

More than 100 captives remain in Gaza and the military believes a quarter of them are dead.

The offensive inside the medical center began hours after Israeli fire towards the hospital killed at least one patient and wounded six others, and after a partial evacuation.

The forces of the country led by Benjamin Netanyahu had given those in the Nasser hospital until 7:00 am to leave the place, but “many cannot evacuate, such as those with lower limb amputations, severe burns or elderly people.” said the spokesman for the Gaza Ministry of Health, Ashraf al-Qidr, in an interview with 'Al Jazeera'.

It is the largest health center in southern Gazawhich is now completely out of service.

The incursion was recorded after last January a former hostage stated in an interview with the AP agency that she and more than two dozen captives had been held in the Nasser hospital.

Although under the rules of International Humanitarian Law it is prohibited to attack medical facilities, they may lose that protection if they are used for armed purposes by any party to the conflict.

Nasser thus becomes the latest focus of operations that have destroyed Gaza's health sector.as doctors struggle to treat dozens of patients injured in daily bombings and amid shortages of medical supplies, water and food.

This offensive occurs at a time when the Army intensifies air attacks and artillery fire in the neighboring town of Rafah, when A full-scale land incursion is feared in the city where most of the population movedin search of relative protection.

Canada, Australia and New Zealand call for immediate ceasefire in Gaza

Israel increases its attacks despite calls from the international community and just hours after a joint request from the governments of Australia, New Zealand and Canada to stop the hostilities in the Palestinian enclave, which already leave a total of at least 28,663 dead, most of them civilians, according to the latest report from the Gaza Ministry of Health, released this Thursday.

“We are seriously concerned by indications that Israel is planning a ground offensive in Rafah. A military operation in Rafah would be catastrophic (…) An immediate humanitarian ceasefire is urgently needed,” said the prime ministers of the three countries.

Although the communication urges Israel to refrain from the ground offensive, it also notes that any ceasefire cannot be “unilateral” and requires Hamas to disarm and immediately release all remaining hostages in its possession.

King Abdullah II of Jordan joins the calls from Canberra, Ottawa and Wellington, who will be received in France on Friday by President Emmanuel Macron, in the midst of his tour of some Western nations to mediate a ceasefire in the enclave. Palestinian.

With Reuters, AP and local media