The Israeli army acknowledged in a tweet on Thursday that their special forces had carried out a targeted and restricted mission at Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza, the primary functioning medical center in the region.

The OHCHR, the human rights office of the UN, expressed concern on Thursday about the recent raid, which seems to be one in a series of attacks on civilian infrastructure, specifically targeting hospitals.

According to spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani from OHCHR, the raid occurred following a seven-day blockade that restricted access to essential supplies such as medical aid, food, and fuel.

The speaker stated that Israeli forces instructed for all patients, including those in critical care and newborn units, to be relocated to another building. This decision puts patients at serious risk, including the possibility of death for the most vulnerable individuals.

There are unofficial accounts of people being held and singled out for attempting to exit the hospital.

On Wednesday, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), tweeted about his concern regarding the worsening conditions at the hospital.

“The ability to enter the hospital is still blocked – there is no secure pathway for those requiring assistance. In the past four days, two WHO delegations have been refused access, and we have been unable to communicate with the hospital staff,” stated the Director-General of WHO.

He urged all parties involved to allow humanitarian aid and protect hospitals, emphasizing the importance of keeping them safe for civilians.

Rafah situation dire

The most recent report from OCHA, the United Nations’ organization for providing humanitarian assistance, emphasizes the movement of people away from the southern border city towards Deir al Balah and the Nuseirat refugee camp.

Earlier this week, the WFP expressed worry that more people being forced to leave the crowded city near the Egyptian border could worsen the situation for those seeking shelter there.

According to Matthew Hollingworth, the WFP’s Country Director for Palestine, the streets of Rafah are crowded with large groups of individuals. He also mentions that all open areas in the city have been transformed into temporary housing.

Approximately 1.5 million Gazans who have been forced to leave their homes due to conflict now reside in the city.

In a video published on the X platform, Mr. Hollingworth expressed concern about the dire situation in Rafah. He described the difficult conditions where residents are struggling to find aid, fuel, and basic necessities in the midst of damp, cold, and miserable weather.

Although the World Food Programme (WFP) is still offering assistance to the people of Gaza in the city of Rafah, other groups like Action Against Hunger, who collaborate closely with the United Nations’ humanitarian efforts, have expressed concerns about potentially having to halt their work if Israeli ground operations extend to Rafah.

At the moment, there continues to be heavy bombing by Israel in Gaza, causing more harm to innocent people and destruction of buildings and other structures.

Death toll rising

According to the Gaza Ministry of Health, there have been 28,576 deaths and 68,291 injuries among Palestinians since October. Between February 13 and 14, 103 Palestinians were killed and 145 injured.

The number of Israeli soldiers who have died in military operations is 230, while 1,352 have been injured. In addition, 1,200 Israelis and foreigners have been killed in attacks on Israel, primarily during the Hamas-led attack on October 7.

Israeli authorities report that there are still 134 people being held captive in Gaza.

Source: news.un.org