July 26
Breaking: Israel shelling Beit Hanoun Hospital in Gaza now
The Israeli military have started to shell and shoot at Beit Hanoun hospital. There are still 61 medical staff and
civilians, three patients and two International Solidarity Movement volunteers trapped inside.
"It's now chaos, the military is shelling directly at us. There are two patients on the second floor and we think
they're okay, but we can't move them easily as they're bed-bound. I'm bleeding from a head wound and there's another
person injured. People are very frightened." Stated Fred Ekblad, Swedish ISM activist.
At 19:00, Beit Hanoun Hospital was first hit by an Israeli tank shell and the shooting and shelling has continually
increased.
This afternoon, Israeli forces destroyed an ambulance in Beit Hanoun, killing one paramedic and critically injuring
another.
Israeli forces have attacked three Gazan medical facilities and personnel in the last 24 hours. The first resulted in
the destruction of Al Durrah Children’s Hospital in Gaza City last night. A two year-old child in the Intensive Care
Unit was killed, and 30 others injured.
Due to previous shelling nearby, Beit Hanoun hospital has evacuated most of its patients to al-Shifa Hospital. Three
patients remain in the hospital.
Since Israel began its attack on Gaza, 13 ambulances have been completely destroyed and two paramedics have been killed.
Throughout the massacre, medical staff and facilities have been repeatedly targeted.
“Israel’s attacks on Gaza hospitals are ongoing, with those in areas by the separation barrier forced to evacuate their
patients, paramedics and other rescue workers are doing what they can under conditions of great risk.” Stated Joe
Catron, U.S. International Solidarity Movement activist.
According to the Gazan Ministry of Health, six out of Gaza’s 13 hospitals have already been severely damaged. One,
el-Wafa rehabilitation hospital, has been completely destroyed. Two medical clinics have been completely destroyed,
seven other clinics have been damaged, 13 medical staff members have been injured, and five have been killed.
The Ministry of Health in Gaza has demanded, “the immediate cessation of Israeli occupation military attacks against
medical facilities and personnel in Gaza, and demands that the international community soundly condemn this latest
Israeli atrocity, and hold Israel accountable for these war crimes.”
ENDS