The last two functioning hospitals in northern Gaza are surrounded by Israeli forces, who do not allow either exit or access to the medical facilities. This was reported by hospital representatives and humanitarian organizations, quoted by the Associated Press, BTA reports.
The situation is developing against the backdrop of the ongoing Israeli offensive in the devastated Palestinian territory. On Friday, Israeli authorities ordered the evacuation of large parts of northern Gaza in preparation for new attacks aimed at putting pressure on “Hamas“ to release hostages. Additional evacuation orders followed on Tuesday.
The areas declared for evacuation include the two besieged hospitals, another hospital and three emergency medical centers - although Israel has not officially issued evacuation orders for the health facilities themselves. Two more hospitals and four medical centers are within a 1,000-meter radius of the evacuation zone, said World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
The WHO has warned that hospitals in northern Gaza are at serious risk of being completely shut down. The UN agency has documented nearly 700 attacks on health facilities in Gaza since the start of the 19-month war between Israel and the Hamas group.