Monday Briefing: Babies Evacuated From Al-Shifa
Babies evacuated from Al-Shifa Hospital
Nearly four days after the Israeli military stormed the biggest hospital in the Gaza Strip, the World Health Organization described the complex as a “death zone” where several patients had died because medical services had been shut down.
There were 291 patients remaining at Al-Shifa Hospital, the U.N. agency said in a statement late Saturday after Israeli forces allowed a U.N. team to tour the facility for an hour. Israel has yet to provide conclusive proof of a subterranean military base at the hospital.
Yesterday, 31 premature babies in extremely critical condition were taken to Al-Helal Emirati Maternity Hospital in Rafah, in the enclave’s south, the Palestine Red Crescent Society and the W.H.O. said on social media. About 10,000 more people left for southern Gaza on Saturday using a route designated by the Israeli military, according to U.N. estimates.
Hostages: Israel and Hamas are close to reaching a deal to pause fighting for multiple days so that hostages can be released, but Jon Finer, President Biden’s deputy national security adviser, warned yesterday that “nothing is agreed until everything is agreed.”