Worrying situation arises for patients and staff at Gaza's al-Aqsa hospital

Doctors from the UK who have been working at the only functional hospital in the central Gaza Strip have expressed their deep concern for patients and staff remaining there, as the fighting between the Israeli military and Hamas intensifies nearby. Deborah Harrington, an obstetrician who has been working at the al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah with the charity Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP), said that the number of staff able to work at the facility has significantly decreased in the past two weeks due to the fighting. However, there are still 600 to 700 patients being treated daily and hundreds of displaced people taking shelter there or in the immediate vicinity. Without sufficient healthcare staff, the situation could become disastrous for those living in Middle Gaza, said surgeon Nick Maynard. Hospitals are protected under international humanitarian law and military operations should spare patients, medical staff, and other civilians inside them. In response to the reports, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that there is no activity near the hospital. Medical Aid for Palestinians and the International Rescue Committee (IRC) announced that their staff had been forced to withdraw and cease activities due to increasing Israeli military activity around the al-Aqsa Hospital. The head of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, also expressed concern over the hostilities and evacuation orders near the vital hospital, stating that it must remain functional and protected to deliver lifesaving services. Senior surgeon and clinical lead Nick Maynard said that he and his team were told to evacuate after an attack on the intensive care unit. There were reports of an incident at the ICU, but the IDF stated that it was not aware of any airstrikes in relation to the incident. Shelling was reported in the vicinity of the hospital, and footage on social media showed smoke and gunshots in the surrounding area. Leaflets dropped by the IDF warned residents of nearby neighborhoods of the dangerous combat zone, but it did not include the area directly around the hospital. Dr. Sean Casey of the WHO stated that the hospital was near an evacuation zone, but the IDF claimed that no specific evacuation notice had been given to al-Aqsa. Two nurses and one staff member have been killed in the past two weeks due to fighting. Many healthcare workers have felt it is too unsafe to go back to the hospital, especially since some patients are unable to move and internally displaced people are living in the hospital compound or nearby. The conditions inside the al-Aqsa hospital have been described as horrific, with limited resources, unsanitary conditions, and a lack of pain relief. The Israeli military claims that it is carrying out operations to eradicate Hamas and rescue hostages taken by the group, while also blaming Hamas for embedding fighters among civilians. The war began after a cross-border attack by Hamas gunmen in October that resulted in numerous casualties and hostages.