Hundreds Of Patients Still Being Treated, WHO Says Nasser Gaza Hospital Can No Longer Be Used After Israeli Attacks

The Israeli military around Nasser Hospital. (Source: Israel Defense Forces)

JAKARTA - Nasser Hospital, the last largest medical complex still functioning in Gaza, is no longer functional, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), after Israel launched an attack on the facility last week.

Israel admitted that its special forces raided the Nasser Hospital on Thursday last week, after carrying out a siege for days.

The WHO team was not allowed to enter hospitals in southern Gaza on Friday or Saturday, "to assess patient conditions and critical medical needs," said WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, in a post on social media X, reported by CNN, February 19.

In his upload, Dr. Tedros also said that there were still many patients being treated at the hospital, with some of them requiring immediate transfer, given the current condition of the hospital.

"There are still around 200 patients in hospital. At least 20 people must be immediately referred to other hospitals to receive health services. Medical referrals are every patient's right," he stressed.

"The cost of delays will be borne by patients' lives," Tedros added, before urging WHO staff to gain access to patients and hospitals.

Last week, Israeli special forces raided the Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza on Thursday, the only large hospital still functioning in the territory after besieging the facility for days.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said they "arrested a number of suspects" at the hospital, adding that the operation was still ongoing.

IDF spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said they had "credible intelligence from a number of sources, including from released hostages," that Hamas had previously held hostages at the hospital, with the bodies of deceased hostages possibly in the hospital.

However, the Israeli military did not release this evidence publicly.

Adm. Hagari claimed, "Hamas terrorists are most likely hiding behind the injured civilians inside Nasser Hospital at this time," saying the operation would be "precise and limited."

"This sensitive operation was properly prepared and carried out by IDF special forces who underwent special training," said Admiral Hagari, citing Reuters.

Ministry spokesperson Dr. Ashraf Al-Qidra claims around 70 health workers were arrested by Israeli forces. Meanwhile, 80 patients have been transferred from hospitals to unknown locations.

Only 25 medical staff remain at the medical complex, and they are unable to handle cases requiring critical care, Al-Qidra said.

For three days, electricity to the complex was cut off, so the supply of oxygen and water was cut off. So far, seven people have died as a result of the incident, he said.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres condemned the Israeli military's attack on the hospital in Khan Younis, spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.

"We emphasize once again, hospitals must be kept free from fighting, they must not be the target of any military action, any type of military action in hospitals must be condemned," said Dujarric.