DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip. Palestinian authorities are urgently seeking a Red Cross-supervised evacuation of Shifa Hospital in Gaza, overwhelmed by ongoing fighting. Health officials emphasize the critical need to save three dozen newborns trapped in the besieged facility, proposing a cease-fire for their safe transport out of the area.
Israeli forces, engaged in days of conflict with Palestinian militants, have encircled Shifa Hospital. Hundreds of patients, medical staff, and displaced individuals are trapped, facing dwindling supplies and electricity shortages that compromise essential medical equipment.
Gaza’s largest hospital, Shifa, has become a stark symbol of Palestinian suffering amid the prolonged war between Israel and Hamas. With only one functional hospital remaining in the north, approximately 200,000 Palestinians have fled southward, facing worsening conditions, according to the U.N. humanitarian office.
In its sixth week, the war was triggered by Hamas’ surprise attack into Israel, resulting in civilian casualties and the abduction of hostages. The conflict has claimed thousands of Palestinian lives, causing widespread destruction in the impoverished enclave.
The Israeli military accuses Hamas of using hospitals as cover and alleges the presence of a command center in Shifa. The Health Ministry denies these claims, inviting international organizations to investigate. The ministry reports 40 deaths since the hospital’s generator ran out of fuel, with 36 newborns at risk due to power shortages.
Efforts to transfer incubators to Shifa are underway, but the World Health Organization insists that evacuation, supervised by the Red Cross, is the only viable solution. Specialized equipment and a cease-fire along the route would be required for a successful evacuation.
As the situation deteriorates, Israel urges Gaza City’s evacuation, but the southern territory remains unsafe. Overcrowded U.N.-run shelters, scarcity of essentials, and environmental challenges exacerbate the plight of displaced Palestinians. Rainy, cold weather compounds the misery, with tent camps facing structural failures.
The U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees faces a potential halt in aid operations by Wednesday due to fuel shortages. Regional tensions escalate as casualties mount, with over 11,000 Palestinians reported killed, and ongoing violence in the Israeli-occupied West Bank adds to the grim toll.
The war’s impact extends beyond Gaza, prompting evacuations in Israel and fueling tensions in the West Bank. As urgent calls for evacuation persist, the international community faces a pressing humanitarian crisis in the midst of a protracted conflict.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
