Gunshots rang out as Palestinian medics, patients, and displaced individuals underwent a frightening and disorganized evacuation from Gaza’s Nasser Hospital following a sudden intrusion by Israeli forces. Those who survived the recent attack on the region’s second-largest medical facility recounted a harrowing journey to escape, navigating through darkness and encountering lifeless bodies along their path.
After the assault on the hospital last week, survivors described a perilous trek to reach safety, braving hazardous conditions and witnessing grim scenes of death.
According to Doctor Ahmed al-Mughraby, who heads the plastic surgery department, during the chaos, a male nurse was stopped at an Israeli checkpoint, stripped of his clothes, and taken away while crying out. Dr. al-Mughraby, who fled the scene with his family, described how smoke filled the air, likening the situation to doomsday, with people scattering in every direction.
In simpler terms, Dr. al-Mughraby shared that amid the confusion, a nurse was detained at an Israeli checkpoint, where he was forcefully undressed and taken away while screaming. The doctor also mentioned the presence of smoke and the panic that ensued, prompting him and his family to leave hastily.
Mughraby, along with his family, sought safety in a shelter near another hospital where he now works. He explained that Israeli forces instructed everyone to evacuate the Nasser Hospital, except for patients who couldn’t walk and the medical staff caring for them.
As people who fled or were evacuated reach Rafah, which is considered a relatively safe area in the Gaza Strip, details of the military attack on Nasser Hospital have begun to surface. Rafah is situated about six miles away on the border with Egypt.
Israel justified the assault on the hospital, claiming it was a precise operation led by special forces aimed at rescuing Israeli hostages. The Israeli authorities stated that patients and staff were not obligated to leave, and efforts were made to ensure the hospital could continue its operations. However, the attack has raised concerns among aid organizations, with the World Health Organization expressing alarm over the extent of the damage, describing it as “indescribable.”
The WHO, which is the health agency of the United Nations, has conducted two evacuations from Nasser Hospital since last Thursday. However, they expressed concern on Tuesday about approximately 150 patients and medical staff who remain there while the fighting continues.
Israeli forces surrounded the hospital and entered it last Thursday. They claimed to have apprehended hundreds of operatives who were hiding there, with some pretending to be hospital staff.
Hamas, a Palestinian group, denied using the hospital for military purposes and dismissed Israel’s accusations as false. The Health Ministry in Gaza stated that Israel has detained 70 staff and volunteers from the hospital.
According to the WHO, the hospital ceased functioning last week due to the Israeli siege and raid. As a result, it lacks electricity and running water, and the accumulation of medical waste and garbage has created conditions ripe for disease spread.
Nasser Hospital was the largest medical facility still functioning in Gaza even after more than four months of ongoing conflict. The war started when fighters from the Palestinian group Hamas attacked Israeli towns on October 7th, resulting in casualties and hostages, according to reports from Israel.
During Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, which has lasted for months, many Palestinians have lost their lives, with health authorities in Gaza estimating the death toll to be more than 29,000.
Hakeem Salem Hussein Baraka, a volunteer at Nasser Hospital’s orthopaedic department, described the destruction he witnessed. He recounted seeing a patient tragically killed by an explosion, and he also mentioned incidents where a drone attacked medical staff and aggressive dogs equipped with cameras patrolled the hospital, actions attributed to Israel’s military presence.
The Israeli military explained that their troops engaged in challenging battles before they entered the hospital compound. They reported facing rocket fire from fighters who were barricaded inside the hospital. According to the military, they discovered significant amounts of weapons and vehicles that were connected to the attack that occurred on October 7th.
Colonel Moshe Tetro, speaking at a news briefing, stated that they provided an opportunity for people to evacuate before they entered the hospital. When asked if there was any gunfire or combat within the hospital, Colonel Tetro responded with a “No.”
Rasmeya Saleem Abu Jamoos, a dialysis patient, recounted that as Palestinians left the hospital before dawn, some had to walk through sewage. She mentioned that her blind husband, Abu Jamoos, was detained at a military checkpoint after they left the hospital.
Dr. Mughraby reported that his hospital ward was hit by Israeli gunfire, and he believed that three patients lost their lives in the attack. Reuters could not confirm this information.
He explained that he, along with his family and some other patients and staff, left the hospital. However, one department nurse was stopped at a checkpoint. Dr. Mughraby described how the nurse was forced to remove all his clothes and was taken into detention, with his screams echoing in the air.
After passing through the checkpoint, Dr. Mughraby and the others faced a difficult journey across a battlefield to find help. Some of them were already sick or injured, making the journey even more challenging.
Baraa Ahmed Abu Mustafa, who was using crutches that didn’t match, shared his experience of shots being fired above their heads as they walked. He also mentioned seeing dead bodies near the hospital entrance. Despite being injured, he walked for an hour, describing the road as dangerous and difficult to traverse.
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