Gaza Health Ministry Says Israel Detains 107 Patients At Al-Shifa Medical Complex

The largest hospital in the Gaza Strip, Al-Shifa Hospital. (Hurriyet Daily)

JAKARTA - Gaza's Ministry of Health on Saturday said Israeli forces detained 107 patients in one of the Al-Shifa Medical Complex buildings in western Gaza.

"After two weeks since the occupation force (Israel) stormed the medical complex, there were as many as 107 trapped patients gathered at the Human Resources Development Building living inhumanely without water, electricity or medicine," the Ministry of Health said in a statement.

"Among the patients, there were 30 beds, apart from 60 members of the medical staff who were detained. The occupation forces prevented all efforts to evacuate these patients through international institutions," he said.

The ministry warns about the dangers of loss of patients given the difficult health conditions they are experiencing.

Gaza's Media Office on Thursday (28/3) said the Israeli military had killed more than 200 Palestinians within the Al-Shifa Medical Complex and detained another 1,000 since storming the facility a week ago.

For 13 consecutive days, the Israeli military continued to invade and surround the complex.

This is the second time Israeli troops have invaded hospitals since the start of the war in Gaza.

The hospital was first invaded on November 16 after being under siege for a week when its courtyard, part of its building, medical equipment and electrical generators were destroyed.

Israel has launched a deadly military offensive in Gaza since a cross-border attack on October 7 led by Palestinian resistance group Hamas, which killed fewer than 1,200 Israelis.

Israeli attacks have killed more than 32,700 Palestinians in Gaza, most of whom were women and children, coupled with mass destruction, evacuation and hunger.

Israel is accused of committing genocide in the International Court (ICJ). The interlocutory ruling in January ordered Tel Aviv to stop genocide and take action that ensures that humanitarian aid is provided to civilians in Gaza.