Israeli Tanks Approach Al-Shifa Hospital Gate, President Biden Asks for Hospitals in Gaza to be Protected

The ambulance at the gate of Al-Shifa Hospital was hit by an Israeli attack on Gaza. (Twitter/@MSF_USA)

JAKARTA - United States President Joe Biden asked that hospitals in the Gaza Strip, Palestine be protected, hoping that Israel's actions would not interfere, as the country's tanks approached the gate of the main hospital in the enclave.

Israeli tanks took up positions outside Al-Shifa Hospital, Gaza City's main medical center, which Israel says is located above a tunnel housing Hamas fighters, which the Palestinian militant group later denied.

In his comments regarding hospitals in Gaza which were affected by the war between Hamas and Israel, President Biden said hospitals must be protected.

"My hope and expectation is that less disruptive actions against hospitals will be reduced and we will remain engaged with Israel," said President Biden at the White House, as reported by Reuters, November 14.

"There are also efforts to get a break in handling the release of prisoners. This is also being negotiated with Qatar," he continued.

"So I remain hopeful, but hospitals must be protected," said President Biden.

Meanwhile, Gaza Health Ministry spokesman Ashraf Al-Qidra, who was inside Al Shifa hospital, said on Monday that 32 patients had died in the previous three days, including three newborn babies, due to the siege of hospitals in northern Gaza and lack of electricity.

Israel launched an attack by land, sea and air against Gaza, completely blockading the territory, after an attack on the southern region of the country by Hamas on October 7, killing more than 1,200 people and taking 240 hostage.

Meanwhile, citing Al Jazeera, around 11,200 people have died in Gaza since Israel's attack on the territory. About 40 percent of this number are children.