GAZA, Palestine
Israeli forces, advancing deep into western Khan Younis in Gaza's bloodiest fighting so far in January, stormed one hospital and put another under siege on Monday, cutting off the wounded from trauma care, Palestinian officials said.
Troops advanced for the first
time into the al-Mawasi district near the Mediterranean Coast, west of Khan
Younis, the main city in southern Gaza. There, they stormed the Al-Khair
hospital and were arresting medical staff, Gaza health ministry spokesman Ashraf
al Qidra told Reuters.
There was no word from Israel
on the situation at the hospital, and the military spokesperson's office had no
comment. The military said later that three Israeli soldiers were killed on
Monday in southern Gaza.
Qidra said at least 50 people
were killed overnight in Khan Younis, while the sieges of medical facilities
meant dozens of dead and wounded were beyond the reach of rescuers.
"The Israeli occupation
is preventing ambulance vehicles from moving to recover bodies of martyrs and
the wounded from western Khan Younis," he said.
The Palestinian Red Crescent
said tanks had surrounded another Khan Younis hospital, al-Amal, headquarters
of the rescue agency, which had lost contact with staff there.
"We are deeply worried
about what is happening around our hospital," said Tommaso Della Longa,
spokesperson for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent
Societies.
Israel says Hamas fighters
operate in and around hospitals, which Hamas and medical staff deny.
Elad Goren of COGAT, the
Israeli defence ministry branch that coordinates with the Palestinians, added
that: "A particular effort led by a dedicated team has been put on making
sure civilians have access to medical care."
White House National Security
Council spokesman John Kirby on Monday said Israel had a right to defend itself
but added: "We expect them to do so in accordance with international law
and to protect innocent people in hospitals, medical staff and patients as
well, as much as possible."
Residents said the bombardment
from air, land and sea was the most intense in southern Gaza since the war began in October.
Video filmed from afar showed
scattered civilians wandering around a ghost city crowded with tents, abandoned
laundry flapping on lines as gunfire rattled and smoke rose into the sky.
Israel launched an offensive
last week to capture Khan Younis, which it now says is the principal
headquarters of the Hamas militants responsible for the Oct. 7 attacks on
southern Israel that killed 1,200 people, according to Israeli tallies.
On Monday the Israeli Defense
Forces said they had found weapons, explosives, rockets and a weapons facility
and destroyed tunnel shafts and underground infrastructure in recent days in
Khan Younis.
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