The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) has committed to assisting in the evacuation of infants stranded at Al-Shifa Hospital in the Gaza Strip.
The World Health Organization (WHO) reported a loss of communication with Al-Shifa Hospital, expressing concern for the well-being of children and elderly patients amid Israeli attacks.
WHO suspects its contacts at Al-Shifa may have relocated to South Gaza due to escalating hostilities on the hospital grounds.
Earlier, the Gaza health ministry, under Hamas control, alleged that the Israeli army was bombarding the hospital, causing power outages and resulting in fatalities within the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
Contrary to these claims, the IDF consistently asserts that Al-Shifa Hospital functions as a key Hamas command centre, interconnected with underground tunnel networks.
The IDF contends that Hamas exploits children and the elderly as human shields, facilitating their escape from attacks while enabling civilian mobility from northern to southern Gaza. To facilitate evacuation, the Israeli military permits a daily four-hour window for residents to move from northern Gaza to the southern strip.
(With agency inputs)
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