Israeli forces attacked the UN’s training center in Khan Yunis, where thousands of people displaced by the war have taken shelter, causing “heavy casualties”, a senior UN official said on Wednesday. .
According to the Reuters news agency, Palestinian officials said that the Israeli forces have cut off the connection of the main hospitals of southern Gaza to the area due to the attack on Khan Yunis.
Israeli forces entered Khan Yunis with tanks and their main target was the refugee camp, which includes Al Amal Hospital and Al Nasr Hospital.
Thomas White, director of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), wrote on X: ‘Attacks are mounting in Khan Younis, a UNRWA refugee camp housing thousands of people has been attacked. Buildings caught fire and there was massive loss of life, safe access to the center has been prohibited for two days, people are trapped.’
Fighting is escalating in Khan Younis #Gaza – the @UNRWA Training Centre sheltering 10Ks of displaced people has just been hit – buildings ablaze and mass casualties – safe access to/from the centre has been denied for 2 days – people are trapped.
— Thomas White (@TomWhiteGaza) January 24, 2024
According to residents, south of Gaza City echoed with gunfire.
This section contains related reference points (Related Nodes field).
Ashraf al-Qadara, spokesman for Gaza’s health ministry, said in a statement: “Occupation forces are isolating hospitals in Khan Younis and bleeding the southern part of the city.”
He said that more than a hundred injured, sick, and newborn children are suffering from severe problems due to the attack on Nasr Medical Complex.
According to the Palestinian Red Cross Society, which runs Al Amal Hospital, soldiers have surrounded its staff and imposed a curfew at the hospital, where the three refugees were killed.
On Tuesday, the Israeli army ordered people to evacuate the area, which is home to 500,000 people, according to the United Nations human rights office.
The Israeli military claims that there are Hamas fighters in and around the hospitals, a claim denied by both Hamas and hospital staff.
Israeli tanks have also blocked the road from Nasr Hospital to the city.