By The Al-Rantisi Hospital in Gaza, one of the main hospitals in the besieged Gaza Strip, is reportedly surrounded by Israeli tanks, according to health workers there. The hospital is still functioning and providing medical services, but workers fear increased military activity in the area could lead to further disruption.
Meanwhile, other medical facilities around Gaza have also been damaged in recent days by Israeli bombardment. The United Nations said that its health facilities in Gaza have been targeted, including a health facility in the al-Jalaa building that was destroyed.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said that it had confirmation that the Al-Rantisi Hospital was surrounded by tanks, but that the hospital was still receiving new patients.
The ICRC also warned against the use of medical facilities “as a military target”. “The presence of military personnel or equipment inside and around medical facilities or any other kind of interference with the provision of medical services created a very real risk of civilian casualties,” it said.
The Israeli military has said it takes every necessary precaution to minimise civilian casualties, but human rights groups and Palestinian officials have accused it of failing to do so.
