Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, Gaza has been the site of chaos and panic as Israeli forces stormed the medical facility in the southern Gaza Strip. This resulted in a situation where Palestinians tried to evacuate, causing scenes of panic and despair. The Israeli army has besieged the facility for weeks, leaving thousands of patients, medical staff, and displaced families trapped inside. Verified video footage showed that those who attempted to flee on Thursday were attacked after leaving the hospital.
According to Gaza Ministry of Health spokesperson Ashraf al-Qudra, Israeli troops were forcing medics, patients, and displaced people into a building at the medical center under harsh conditions, with no access to water, food, or milk for children. The situation at Nasser Medical Complex has been described as catastrophic. The dwindling medical capacity due to fuel shortages threatens the lives of patients, including those on respirators in intensive care and children in incubators.
The Israeli army accused Hamas of using the medical compound to hold captives, but did not provide evidence for the claim. The Palestinian group, Hamas, denies the accusation. The raid has displaced patients and medical workers, who spoke of terrifying and strenuous conditions.
The Israeli military claimed to have opened a secure route for civilians to exit, while allowing medics and patients to remain inside. However, witnesses and the medical NGO Doctors Without Borders (MSF) reported that people inside were afraid to leave, fearing that they would be shot at. The situation was described as chaotic by MSF, and reports indicated that medical staff had to flee the hospital, leaving patients behind. The Israeli army also fired on people inside the hospital, including a doctor and a nurse.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has described Nasser Hospital as a crucial facility for all of Gaza, where most hospitals are only partially operational. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expressed alarm at the situation at Nasser Hospital, calling it the backbone of the health system in southern Gaza.
The Ministry of Health in Gaza reported that at least 28,663 people have been killed in Israel’s attacks since October 7, and at least 68,395 have been wounded. This is part of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, which has resulted in multiple attacks on hospitals and other critical facilities in Gaza.