Israel’s prime minister is pushing back against calls from Western allies to do more to protect Palestinian civilians as troops encircled Gaza’s largest hospital.
Israel’s prime minister pushed back Saturday against calls from Western allies to , as troops encircled where doctors said five patients died — including a premature baby — after the last generator ran out of fuel.
Israel has portrayed Shifa Hospital as Hamas’ main command post, saying militants were using civilians as human shields there and had set up elaborate bunkers underneath it – claims Hamas and Shifa staff deny. In recent days, fighting near Shifa and other hospitals in the combat zone of northern Gaza has intensified and supplies have run out.
« There is no electricity. Medical devices stopped. Patients, especially those in intensive care, started to die, » said Mohammed Abu Selmia, the director of Shifa, speaking by phone over the sound of gunfire and explosions.
Abu Selmia said Israeli troops were « shooting at anyone outside or inside the hospital, » and prevented movement between the buildings in the compound.
The claim that Israeli troops were the sole source of fire could not be verified independently.
Asked about reports of troops firing into the Shifa courtyard, the Israeli military would only say that troops are engaged with fighting Hamas in the vicinity and take all feasible measures to prevent harm to civilians. It said soldiers have encountered hundreds of Hamas fighters in underground facilities, schools, mosques and clinics during fighting in Gaza.
At Shifa, five patients died after the generator shut down, including a premature baby, said Medhat Abbas, a spokesman for the Health Ministry.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the responsibility for any harm to civilians lies with Hamas, repeating long-standing allegations that the militant group uses civilians in Gaza as human shields. He said that while Israel has urged civilians to leave combat zones, « Hamas is doing everything it can to prevent them from leaving. »
His statement came after French President Emmanuel Macron pushed for a cease-fire and urged other leaders to join his call, telling the BBC there was « no justification » for Israel’s ongoing bombing.
Following Hamas’ on Israel, in which at least 1,200 people were killed, Israel’s allies have defended the country’s right to protect itself.
