Tensions escalate as Israeli tanks encircle the Indonesian Hospital in northern Gaza following artillery fire that claimed the lives of at least 12 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Ministry of Health. The hospital, located in Beit Lahiya and established in 2016 with funding from Indonesian organizations, is now in a catastrophic state, trapping around 700 individuals, including medical staff and the injured.
Gaza’s Health Ministry spokesperson, Ashraf al-Qudra, described the situation as dire, emphasizing that hospital staff are determined to remain and treat the wounded despite the perilous circumstances. The Israeli military has not issued an immediate comment on the incident.
The hospital staff vehemently denies the presence of armed militants on the premises, while Palestinian health officials are urgently attempting to evacuate civilians from the affected area. Indonesia’s Foreign Minister, Retno Marsudi, condemned Israel’s actions, labeling them a clear violation of international humanitarian laws, and called on Israel’s partners to intervene.
The attack on the Indonesian Hospital follows the evacuation of 31 premature babies from al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City by the World Health Organization. Al-Shifa Hospital, Gaza’s largest health facility, is under siege with 7,000 people inside, facing evacuation at gunpoint after days of intense air strikes and a shortage of fuel and medical supplies.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports a collapse of services at hospitals across northern Gaza due to widespread air strikes. The Israeli military alleges that Hamas has built underground infrastructure beneath hospitals for military purposes, a claim denied by both Hamas and medical officials.
Marwan Abdallah, a medical worker at the Indonesian Hospital, reported visible Israeli tanks and ongoing gunfire, causing terror among women and children. The hospital received numerous casualties from overnight air raids and shelling.
As the crisis unfolds, the international community is closely watching the deteriorating situation in Gaza, with concerns growing over the humanitarian impact of the ongoing conflict.
