Intense shelling targets vicinity of Al-Amal Hospital in southern Gaza: Palestine Red Crescent Society

By Nour Abu Aisha

GAZA CITY, Palestine (AA) - The Palestinian Red Crescent Society said Wednesday that Israeli artillery vehicles are shelling the vicinity of the Al-Amal Hospital, which is affiliated with the humanitarian organization, in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip.

“The intense artillery targeting is escalating around Al-Amal Hospital in Khan Yunis,” it said in a statement.

It clarified that shelling is at a distance of less than "a hundred meters" from the hospital.

More than once, the humanitarian organization and the Health Ministry in Gaza have expressed concerns about a repetition of what happened to hospitals in northern Gaza -- from targeting surroundings to direct shelling, siege and the arrest of those inside.

In recent weeks, hundreds of displaced residents fleeing their homes in Khan Yunis sought refuge in the hospital and Red Crescent’s headquarters due to intense Israeli bombardment.

The Red Crescent reported casualties Tuesday, following an Israeli shelling that targeted the eighth floor of its building in Khan Yunis after the upper floors of the headquarters were targeted Dec. 26. Several displaced individuals with injured in that attack.

During the ongoing conflict in Gaza, the Israeli army has targeted numerous medical facilities and ambulances, initially focusing on medical establishments in the northern and central parts of the enclave.

Later, the attacks expanded to medical institutions in the south as battles intensified following the end of a temporary humanitarian pause with the Palestinian resistance group, Hamas, in December.

*Writing by Rania Abu Shamala