Palestinian Authority Condemns Israeli Evacuation of al-Shifa Hospital

In a statement, the PA's foreign ministry decried the evacuation, emphasizing the deepening crisis in Gaza and the mounting pressure on hospitals in the southern region.

"The evacuation of al-Shifa exacerbates the existing humanitarian and environmental catastrophe in Gaza. Israel's actions represent yet another appalling facet of the ethnic cleansing and genocide perpetrated against Palestinians," the statement asserted.

Israel’s actions represent “another hideous facet of the crimes of ethnic cleansing and genocide committed by the occupation forces against Palestinians,” it continued.

Ismail al-Thawabta, director general of the government media office in Gaza, highlighted the critical condition of some evacuated patients, expressing concern that the journey to another medical facility could prove fatal.

"All are going to die simply because they require swift medical attention," al-Thawabta lamented in an interview with Al Jazeera. He further described how those inside the hospital were coerced to leave at gunpoint, deeming it "another war crime."

Sources within al-Shifa Hospital reported a palpable sense of panic and fear among patients, medical staff, and families following the Israeli army's evacuation order, considering it an impossible decision due to the lack of functioning ambulances and transportation means.

The Israeli army's purported failure to provide alternative solutions or means of transport for patients, premature babies, and displaced families drew comparisons to a previous incident at al-Quds Hospital. Dr. Bashar Murad, during a similar situation, repeatedly requested ambulances and fuel but received no response, ultimately resorting to pushing patients through the streets.

The critical situation at al-Shifa Hospital, housing over 300 patients, most in critical condition, presented a logistical challenge. Medical sources revealed the inability of these patients to endure the journey to the south on hospital beds.