According to Thomas White, the Deputy Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory, the number of casualties has increased due to escalated conflict in the training center area of Khan Younis. So far, there have been 12 confirmed deaths and 75 people injured, with 15 in critical condition.

“Continual assaults on non-military locations in Khan Younis are completely unacceptable and must cease without delay… The center was struck by two projectiles yesterday, causing a fire,” stated Mr. White, while denouncing the persistent disregard for the essential principles of international humanitarian law: distinguishing between military and civilian targets, using appropriate force, and taking precautions when carrying out attacks.”

In the midst of intense combat between the Israeli Defense Forces and Palestinian armed groups in Khan Younis, a UN representative expressed concern for the wellbeing of those located in nearby hospitals and shelters. They stated that the people in these facilities, including staff, patients, and displaced individuals, are currently unable to leave and essential medical services are being hindered.

Mr. White stated that several missions to evaluate the condition were rejected. He also mentioned that on Wednesday night, the UN was able to access the impacted regions to provide care for trauma victims, deliver medical resources, and transport injured patients to Rafah.

According to the UN Deputy Humanitarian Coordinator in Gaza, recent intense battles in the southern city have resulted in the remaining hospitals, such as Nasser Medical Complex and Al-Amal, being surrounded and partially operational.

Despite numerous reports of widespread destruction of buildings in Gaza, Mr. White pointed out that the Al-Kheir Hospital in Khan Younis has shut down due to the evacuation of patients, including women who had recently undergone C-section surgeries, in the middle of the night.

Confirming details of the rescue mission in Khan Younis, UN World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that a team had helped to evacuate 45 patients from the UN training centre to Al-Najjar Hospital in Rafah, “15 of whom were in critical condition. One patient tragically died en route”.

Tedros, in a post on the social media platform X (previously known as Twitter), acknowledged that the severity of the conflict prevented the team from successfully evacuating all of the wounded individuals.

“We strongly advocate for the safety and well-being of all civilians, humanitarians, and health workers. We implore for an urgent halt to hostilities,” he declared.

© UNRWA/Hussein Owda

Amidst gunfire and shelling in the vicinity, women and children seek refuge in a packed UNRWA facility in Khan Younis, Gaza.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) was about to make a ruling on South Africa’s accusation of Israel committing genocide in Gaza, but Israel has refuted these claims.

Since war began in Gaza on 7 October 2023 when Israel launched heavy bombardment in response to Hamas-led attacks on Israeli communities that left some 1,200 dead and more than 250 taken hostage, Gaza health authorities have reported that at least 25,700 people have been killed and some 63,740 injured.

Source: news.un.org