By Qais Omar Darwesh Omar and Mohammed Majed
GAZA CITY, Palestine (AA) – The Health Ministry in Gaza announced that 13 Palestinians were killed and 26 others injured on Friday in an Israeli bombing that targeted ambulances in front of the Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City.
In a statement, the ministry said: “13 Palestinians were killed and 26 others were injured as a result of the massacre committed by the occupation (forces) against ambulances at the gate of the Al-Shifa Medical Complex.”
The ministry said the ambulances were carrying a number of wounded people for treatment in Egypt.
“We had notified the International Committee of the Red Cross, the Arab Republic of Egypt, and the entire world through communication channels of the movement of ambulances carrying the injured to Egypt, but the occupation (forces) committed the crime with utmost brazenness,” the ministry added.
The ministry called on the international community to hold those responsible for the massacre accountable.
“There were many casualties and injuries in an Israeli strike targeting an ambulances convoy that was heading south to reach the Rafah land crossing,” Health Ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qudra said in a press conference at Al-Shifa Hospital earlier Friday.
Located in the central western part of Gaza City, the Al-Shifa Medical Complex is considered the largest medical health institution within the Gaza Strip.
The Israeli army has widened its air and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip, which has been under relentless airstrikes since the surprise offensive by Hamas on Oct. 7.
More than 10,700 people have been killed in the conflict, including at least 9,240 Palestinians and more than 1,538 Israelis.
* Writing by Ikram Kouachi