Israel Attacks Hospital In Khan Younis: Medical Staff Arrested, Ambulance Prohibited From Transporting Dead And Injured Victims

The Israeli military in the Gaza Strip. (Source: Israel Defense Forces)

JAKARTA - Gaza had its bloodiest day in January, when Israeli forces stormed and surrounded the hospital in Khan Younis, cutting off access for victims to receive treatment by ambulance prohibited from operating on Monday, officials said.

Israeli forces for the first time moved to the Al-Mawasi District near the Mediterranean Coast, west of Khan Younis, the main city of southern Gaza. There, they stormed Al-Khair hospital and arrested medical staff, Gaza Health Ministry spokesman Ashraf al Qidra told Reuters.

There was no response from Israel regarding the situation at the hospital. Meanwhile, the military spokesman's office gave no comment. The military later said three Israeli soldiers were killed on Monday in southern Gaza.

Qidra said at least 50 people died overnight in Khan Younis, while the siege of medical facilities left dozens of people dead and injured beyond the reach of the rescue team.

"Israeli occupation prevented ambulances from operating to retrieve the bodies of the martyrs and injured in the western region of Khan Younis," he said.

Meanwhile, the Palestinian Red Crescent (PRCS) said tanks had surrounded another hospital in Khan Younis, al-Amal, the headquarters of the rescue agency, who lost contact with staff there.

"We are very worried about what is happening around our hospital," said Tommoso Della Longa, spokesman for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Communities.

At Nasser Hospital, the only major hospital accessible in Khan Younis and the largest still functioning in Gaza, the video shows the ER ward overwhelmed with injured people being treated on the bloodied floor.

Outside, the men dug graves in the hospital yard because it was not safe to go out to the cemetery. Authorities said 40 people were buried there.

Earlier, Israel said Hamas fighters were operating in and around hospitals, but this was denied by Hamas and medical staff.

Elad Goren of COGAT, Israel's branch of the Ministry of Defense in coordination with Palestine, added: "Special efforts led by special teams have been made to ensure civilians have access to medical care."

Israel launched an attack last week to seize Khan Younis, who is now said to be the headquarters of the Hamas militants responsible for the October 7 attack on southern Israel that killed 1,200 people, according to Israeli tallies.

On the Palestinian side, at least 25,295 Gazans have been killed since October 7, Gaza's health authorities said in a recent report on Monday.

Most of Gaza's 2.3 million population now live in Rafah south of Khan Younis and Deir al-Balah in the north, crammed into public buildings and tents made of plastic sheets tied to wooden frames.

On Monday, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it had found weapons, explosives, rockets and weapons facilities as well as destroyed tunnels and underground infrastructure in the last few days in Khan.