Israel Prevents Evacuation Of Child Patients From Indonesian Hospitals In Gaza

RI Hospital (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - Israeli forces are blocking efforts by the World Health Organization (WHO) to evacuate pediatric patients from hospitals in North Gaza, including Indonesian hospitals, according to Palestinian health authorities on Friday, October 11 local time.

"The (Israeli) army has prevented WHO envoys assigned to evacuate patients in intensive care units and children from hospitals in North Gaza to the northern region of the Gaza Strip," Palestinian Deputy Health Minister Maher Shamiya quoted Antara as saying.

The UN health agency has not commented on the incident.

According to Shamiya, three hospitals in North GazaAl-Awda, Indonesian Hospital, and Kamal Adwan are currently treating 124 patients, 13 of whom are patients in intensive care and eight pediatric patients.

"The Kamal Adwan Hospital has the largest pediatric intensive care unit in Gaza and the governorship of North Gaza, and is currently in danger of being closed due to Israeli attacks," he added.

For the fifth time since starting military operations in Sunday, Israeli soldiers have blocked fuel trucks entering Gaza and hospitals in the north.

Shamiya noted that hospitals in Gaza are facing a fuel crisis needed to revive the generator. This condition could stop activities in intensive care units and operating rooms.

He also explained that the Jabalia refugee camp was completely surrounded by Israel, so it was almost impossible for its occupants to leave.

"The army opened fire on anything that moved, making it very difficult to evacuate the dead and provide medical assistance to the injured," said Shamiya.

He called on the international community and the United Nations to intervene immediately so that the siege could end and allow the entry of fuel and medical supplies to hospitals in North Gaza.

On Tuesday, Gaza's Ministry of Health reported that the Israeli military had warned the three hospitals to evacuate staff and patients.

Soldiers threatened to kill, destroy, and arrest hospital staff, as they did at Al-Shifa Hospital a few months ago.

The warning came after Israel launched a military operation in Jabalia on Sunday under the pretext of preventing Hamas from controlling the region.

Israel warned Palestinians to flee Jabalia, Beit Hanoun, and Beit Lahia to the southern region.

However, Gaza's Ministry of Home Affairs and National Security warned citizens against complying with the order, which they refer to as "deceivers of power and lies."

Israel has continued to carry out blind attacks on the Gaza Strip since cross-border attacks by Palestinian resistance group Hamas on 7 October.

More than 42,000 Palestinians have been killed, most women and children, and more than 98,000 others injured, according to local health authorities.

Israel's aggression also blocked the Palestinian enclave, causing a food, clean water and medicine crisis.