Israeli tanks have encircled the Indonesian Hospital in northern Gaza, following a barrage of artillery fire that claimed the lives of at least 12 Palestinians within the complex, as reported by the war-torn enclave’s Ministry of Health.
The situation inside the Indonesian Hospital is described as catastrophic, with approximately 700 people, including medical staff and injured individuals, trapped.
Despite the perilous circumstances, the hospital staff is determined to remain and continue treating the wounded. The Israeli military, known for rarely disclosing troop movements, has not yet issued a comment on the unfolding situation. The hospital, established in 2016 with funding from Indonesian organizations, is now at the center of frantic efforts to evacuate civilians and medical personnel.
This development comes on the heels of the World Health Organization's evacuation of 31 premature babies from al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, which had been under siege for several days with over 250 critically ill or wounded patients stranded inside. The largest health facility in the territory is now being evacuated under the threat of arms.
The United Nations humanitarian agency, OCHA, has reported a collapse of services in hospitals across northern Gaza due to widespread strikes, fuel shortages, and a lack of medical supplies. Israeli military officials claim that Hamas, the governing group in Gaza, has constructed underground military infrastructure beneath hospitals—a charge vehemently denied by Hamas and medical authorities.
As the conflict intensifies, with Israel launching its offensive in response to cross-border raids by Hamas, the death toll continues to rise. Israeli authorities report over 1,200 casualties, primarily civilians, from the wave of violence initiated on October 7.
In contrast, the Hamas-run government asserts that the death toll from Israel’s aerial bombardment and ground operations has reached a staggering 13,000, including thousands of children.