The Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis, Gaza, is in severe and worrying condition following an Israeli attack on Thursday, according to the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza.
The situation at the Khan Yunis medical center is regarded as catastrophic owing to a shortage of medical supplies, putting patients and medics at risk.
The Israeli military carried out what they called a "precise and limited operation" at the hospital, a significant health facility in the region. However, the impact has been considerable, with the health ministry reporting a chaotic situation and the medical charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF) emphasizing the difficulties encountered by its workers.
MSF reported the terrible reality on social media, writing, "Our medical staff have had to flee the hospital, leaving patients behind." The neglect of patients, along with the shelling, caused multiple casualties.
The Israeli military first claimed "credible intelligence," indicating the existence of captives at the hospital. However, further remarks revealed a lack of proof to back up their allegation. Military spokesperson Daniel Hagari stated that no captives were recovered, but weapons were discovered within the hospital facility.
Social media footage captured the aftermath of the bombardment, with rescuers trekking through debris to extract victims. The health ministry released a video of a congested corridor with people on beds to highlight the burden on the healthcare system.
During the pandemic, over 460 people were moved to an old hospital facility, where they suffered a significant lack of necessary services. The health ministry stated that those relocated were "without food, without milk for children, and with a severe shortage of water," providing a bleak picture of the emerging humanitarian disaster.