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Gaza’s largest hospital, al-Shifa Hospital, has reportedly been bombed five times in the past few hours.
According to the World Health Organization, there is “intense violence” at the site.
– I have no details, but we know they are under bombardment, says the organization’s spokesperson Margaret Harris.
Early Friday morning, pictures and videos began to spread of dead and injured people, among them children, at Gaza’s largest hospital, al-Shifa Hospital, located in Gaza City.
Ashraf al-Qidra, spokesman for Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry, said the hospital had been bombed by the Israeli military five times in the past few hours, including hitting the maternity ward.
He also stated that 13 people were killed and many more injured.
During Friday, much was unclear about the events, and very little information could be confirmed.
“Under Bombardment”
The AFP news agency’s journalist on the scene reported that seven dead bodies were lying outside the hospital.
And the Reuters news agency has been able to verify one of the video clips where several bloody people are seen – and writes that it matches the location of the al-Shifa hospital.
WHO spokeswoman Margaret Harris told Reuters about al-Shifa hospital:
– I have no details, but we know that they are under bombardment.
She also said that colleagues on the scene told that there was “intense violence” at the hospital.
Tens of thousands of Palestinians have taken shelter in al-Shifa from Israeli airstrikes.
“Significant bombing”
During Friday, there were also numerous reports that the Israeli military attacked and surrounded a number of other hospitals in Gaza, in addition to al-Shifa.
Margaret Harris told Reuters that Gaza’s only hospital with a children’s ward, Rantissi Hospital, had come under “significant bombing”. At the Rantissi hospital, there are children receiving life-sustaining care, and dialysis, and therefore cannot be moved or evacuated, according to Harris.
She also stated that a total of 20 of Gaza’s 35 hospitals have now completely stopped functioning as a result of Israeli bombing.
Mohammed Zaqout, director of Gaza’s hospitals, said during the day that the hospitals that are still open are in a “catastrophic situation” because there is no electricity, water or food.
– We cannot provide care to the injured and the hospitals are continuously bombed by Israel, he said.
There was fighting yesterday
Israel has not commented on the data in its entirety. However, the Israeli military, the IDF, has stated in a general comment that they do not attack hospitals. The IDF has also stated that heavy fighting took place near the al-Shifa hospital on Thursday.
In the past, Israel has stated that Hamas uses hospitals, and in particular the al-Shifa hospital, to coordinate its attacks against the Israeli army.