KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip. Thirty one premature babies in “extremely critical condition” were safely evacuated from Gaza’s largest hospital, Shifa Hospital, to Egypt on Sunday. This evacuation took place as Israeli forces entered the hospital to search for alleged Hamas operations, leaving over 250 patients with severely infected wounds and urgent conditions stranded.
The babies, who were receiving urgent care in Rafah due to power cuts and depleted supplies at Shifa Hospital, suffered from dehydration, hypothermia, and sepsis. Unfortunately, four infants lost their lives in the days leading up to the evacuation.
Amid escalating tensions, Israel claimed that Shifa Hospital served as a Hamas command post, providing evidence of a tunnel beneath the hospital complex. The tunnel allegedly included a firing hole and a blast-proof door. The hospital has been a focal point in the broader conflict, with Israel accusing Hamas of using medical facilities as military headquarters, a claim denied by hospital staff and Hamas.
In a separate incident, Yemen’s Houthi rebels seized an Israeli-linked cargo ship in the southern Red Sea, taking 25 crew members hostage. The rebels vowed to target ships connected to Israel, raising concerns about the conflict’s impact on maritime activities.
Meanwhile, heavy fighting was reported in the Jabaliya refugee camp in northern Gaza, with clashes causing civilian casualties. The UN agency for Palestinian refugees expressed outrage over an airstrike on a UN-run school in Jabalia, resulting in 24 deaths. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for an end to the staggering number of civilian casualties.
The situation in Gaza worsened due to cold weather, with over two-thirds of the population displaced. The UN agency for Palestinian refugees struggled to provide basic services, and Israel’s restrictions on fuel imports exacerbated the crisis.
As the conflict persists, the international community remains engaged in negotiations to secure the release of hostages, while the war cabinet in Israel plans to meet with representatives of the hostages’ families. The broader impact of the conflict is evident, with thousands of Palestinians killed and the humanitarian situation deteriorating.
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.
