‘Intense Bombings’ By Israeli Forces Around Gaza Hospitals

Israel continues heavy shelling in the vicinity of several hospitals in the North of the Gaza Strip, Officials in the besieged enclave say as all communications and internet services were once again cut.

“For more than an hour, intense bombings have been taking place around hospitals,” Salama Maarouf, Head of the Hamas Government’s Media Office, said.

The vicinity of the Palestinian territory’s largest hospital, Al Shifa, saw particularly heavy strikes, according to Marouf.

Al Jazeera’s Safwat Kahlout, reporting from Deir Al Balah in central Gaza, also said the most intense shelling was taking place in the area surrounding the hospital.

“We can understand that these air strikes are aimed at pushing the Israeli troops surrounding Gaza City towards the Al Shifa Hospital. We know that thousands of people left their homes in these neighbourhoods towards the hospital, seeking shelter,” he said.

“Which indicates that the Israeli Army is planning for something big, maybe in the coming hours or in the coming days in terms of the Al Shifa Hospital itself.”

Earlier on Sunday, an Israeli attack hit near Al Quds Hospital in Gaza City, wounding at least 14 people and damaging the building.

Internet access advocacy group reported a “collapse in connectivity” across Gaza. The blackout was confirmed by the Palestinian telecom company Paltel.

“We have lost communication with the vast majority of the UNRWA team members,” UN Palestinian Refugee Agency Spokesperson Juliette Touma told The Associated Press.

The first Gaza outage lasted 36 hours and the second one for a few hours

“In our Al Quds Hospital, we are deeply concerned about the situation because of the heavy shelling in the last days, really hitting in the proximity of the hospital,” Tommaso della Longa, a Geneva-based Spokesperson for the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent, said.

Hospitals and ambulances have been hit several times since the latest Israeli attacks began on October 7, killing patients, displaced civilians sheltering at the facilities as well as health workers.

ALJAZEERA