Chicago – January 22, 2023
Israeli soldiers, pressing deep into western Khan Younis in Gaza’s worst combat yet in January, seized one hospital and placed another under siege on Monday, cutting the wounded off from trauma care, according to Palestinian sources.
For the first time, troops advanced into the al-Mawasi area near the Mediterranean Coast, west of Khan Younis, the main city in southern Gaza. They attacked the Al-Khair hospital and arrested the medical staff.
Israel provided no immediate update on the situation at the hospital. The military spokesperson’s office provided no explanation.
At least 50 people were killed overnight in Khan Younis, and rescuers were unable to reach dozens of the dead and injured due to hospital sieges.
The Palestinian Red Crescent said that tanks had surrounded another Khan Younis hospital, al-Amal, the rescue agency’s headquarters, which had lost touch with its staff.
“We are deeply concerned about what is going on around our hospital,” stated Tommaso Della Longa, spokesperson for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
“Ambulances cannot go in or out and we cannot provide any emergency health care to people in the area.”
