Ongoing attacks on hospitals and medical equipment in Gaza

Polly Basak for PNN – Three hospitals were attacked on the same day in the Gaza Strip where Israeli forces disregard the Fourth Geneva Convention which prohibits targeting medical facilities, ambulances and personnel.

Since the major attacks began on 27 December, Israeli forces have hit 16 medical facilities and even more ambulances and medics.

On 15 January he Al Quds Palestinian Red Crescent Society Hospital in the Tel Al Hawa neighbourhood, the Al Wafa Hospital in eastern Gaza City (the only rehabilitation hospital in the Gaza Strip) and the Al Fata Hospital in western Gaza City came under fire and were all damaged in the bombardment.

In addition a Palestine Red Crescent warehouse was also shelled, destroying all medical and relief items stored in the vicinity.

In both the Al Wafa Hospital and Al Fata Hospital the windows were smashed, walls were damaged and three hospital ambulances were destroyed in the blast.

At the Al Quds Hospital the explosion destroyed the main administration floor of the building causing a fire to break out. Three people were injured in the blaze. Three hundred people were in the building at the time, 15 of whom were in the intensive care unit and connected to life saving equipment. Doctors were forced to leave these patients in their beds as they took others into the basement for protection against the coming attacks. During this time Israeli assaults continued whilst the army surrounded the hospital for several hours. A further bombardment late yesterday evening caused another fire to break out.

Following the attacks, Jakob Kellenberger, the president of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said, “It is unacceptable that wounded people receiving treatment in hospitals are put at risk. Medical and humanitarian facilities are becoming more and more exposed to the effects of the fighting. These recent developments are particularly alarming in that the Gaza hospitals are already overcrowded and overstretched, and the number of casualties is growing."

The Ministry of Health has reported that 16 health facilities and 16 ambulances have been damaged or destroyed through direct or indirect shelling since 27 December. There has also been a significant rise in the shooting and killing of medical personnel.

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon strongly condemned the attacks stating that the Palestinian death toll is "unbearable" and called for an immediate ceasefire.