At least 15 Palestinians were killed and injured 60 others in an Israeli airstrike on an ambulance convoy in front of the gate of the Al-Shifa Hospital, the largest facility in Gaza City, on Friday, November 3, Al Jazeera reported.
The Israeli forces targeted ambulances which were transporting high-risk patients with severe injuries from al-Shifa hospital to Egypt for treatment, via the Rafah Border, Health Ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qudra said in a televised press conference.
“An Israeli bombing also targeted ambulances in two other locations on Al-Rashid Coastal Street that were carrying wounded people to the south to reach the Rafah land crossing to transport them to Egypt,” the spokesman added.
Video footage widely circulated on social media showed bloody and chaotic scenes.
The Israeli army has confirmed that it has targeted an ambulance in Gaza City.
In a post on X late Friday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said: “A Hamas terrorist cell was identified using an ambulance. In response, an IDF aircraft struck and neutralized the Hamas terrorists, who were operating within the ambulance. “We emphasize that this area in Gaza is a war zone. Civilians are repeatedly called upon to evacuate southward for their own safety.”
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO), took to X and wrote, “Utterly shocked by reports of attacks on ambulances evacuating patients close to Al-Shifa hospital in #Gaza, leading to deaths, injuries and damage.”
“We reiterate: patients, health workers, facilities, and ambulances must be protected at all times. Always.”
“Ceasefire NOW. #NotATarget,” he added.
Earlier on Friday, Israel targeted the vicinity of Al-Quds Hospital and the Indonesian Hospital.
Gaza hospitals are facing a severe crisis, with many unable to provide necessary services due to shortages of medicine, beds, fuel, and other essentials.
At least 20 Palestinians were killed and injured on Friday when the Israeli forces bombed the Osama Bin Zaid School affiliated with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), housing thousands of displaced people in the Al-Saftawi area north of Gaza City.
For 29 days, the Israeli forces have continued waging a war on the Gaza Strip, resulting in the death of 9,227, including 3,826 children and 2,405 women and wounding 23,516 people, causing a catastrophic humanitarian situation, according to warnings issued by international institutions.
The Israeli army expanded its air and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip, which has been subjected to continuous air strikes since the surprise attack launched by Hamas on October 7.
