Israeli tanks besiege Gaza’s Indonesian Hospital: Analysis

Israeli tanks have surrounded the Indonesian Hospital in northern Gaza after artillery fire resulted in the deaths of at least 12 Palestinians in the hospital complex, according to Gaza’s Ministry of Health. The situation in the hospital is described as catastrophic, with hundreds of people, including medical staff and injured individuals, trapped inside. The Israeli military has not provided any immediate comments on the situation. The Palestinian news agency Wafa reported that the hospital in the town of Beit Lahiya was hit by artillery fire, and efforts were made to evacuate civilians. Hospital staff have denied the presence of armed militants on the premises.
Indonesia’s Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi condemned Israel’s actions and called on Israel’s partners to work towards ending the atrocities. The attack is seen as a clear violation of international humanitarian laws. The facility, which was established in 2016 with funding from Indonesian organizations, was the target of the Israeli advance. This incident follows the evacuation of 31 premature babies from al-Shifa Hospital by the World Health Organization. More than 250 critically ill or wounded patients have been stranded at al-Shifa Hospital since Israeli forces entered the compound. The lack of fuel and medical supplies, along with widespread airstrikes, has led to a collapse of services at hospitals across northern Gaza, according to the United Nations humanitarian agency OCHA. The Israeli military claims that Hamas, the ruling group in Gaza, has built underground infrastructure below hospitals for military purposes, but this claim is denied by Hamas and medical officials. Medical workers in the Indonesian Hospital report the presence of Israeli tanks near the windows and continuous sounds of explosions and gunfire. The Israeli offensive against Gaza was launched in response to cross-border raids by Hamas, which resulted in the deaths of over 1,200 people, mostly civilians, according to Israeli authorities. The Hamas-run government claims that the death toll from Israel’s bombardment and ground operations in the territory has reached 13,000, including thousands of children.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/11/20/israeli-tanks-surround-gazas-indonesian-hospital-after-killing-12-people