Gaza hospital turns into refugee camp for people fleeing Israel's assault

Thousands of displaced Gazans are crammed into every available space at Al Shifa Hospital, sleeping in landings or corridors, passing the hours of the day in stairwells, or hanging laundry on the roof. They are also housed under improvised canvas shelters in the parking lot. People whose homes have been bombed or fear they will be in Israel’s military assault on the Gaza Strip, which is about to enter its second month, have found enormous refuge in Gaza City’s main hospital. Al Shifa is not the only one in this situation. According to estimates from the World Health Organisation, 122,000 displaced Gazans are taking up residence in hospitals, churches, and other public buildings throughout the strip, while 827,000 more are in schools. Hamas fighters attacked Israel on October 7, killing 1,400 people and kidnapping 240 more. This attack set off the war. According to Gaza officials, Israel retaliated against Hamas with an air, sea, and land offensive that has killed over 10,000 people in the heavily populated coastal strip. The displacement crisis is making matters worse for hospitals, which are already facing severe supply and electricity shortages due to the daily influx of extremely injured patients. Employees are taking extreme measures, like operating on patients. Displaced people at Al Shifa said they had come for safety, but they did not feel safe because of the approaching Israeli military and airstrikes. Israel claims to have encircled Gaza City with its military forces. Although Hamas has denied it, the Israeli military has accused the Islamist terrorist movement of concealing tunnel entrances and operational centres inside Al Shifa. Israel declared that it had attacked a Hamas fighter ambulance. The ambulance, according to the Palestine Red Crescent Society, was part of a convoy of five that was trying to evacuate seriously injured individuals. Residents of Gaza who are still in the north of the strip have been ordered by Israel to relocate to the south, which is likewise under bombardment, albeit less severely. During a Tuesday media briefing, a representative from the Israeli military was questioned regarding the reports of flash bombs going off overnight over Al Shifa. “I know that it took place. There was probably some operational requirement,” he said. “We’re trying to get people to leave, that’s all I can say about that. These are the sorts of messaging for people to try to get out of there.” (With agency inputs)