Israel-Hamas War: ‘All ICU Patients In Al-Shifa Hospital Dead Amid Israeli Siege’ — Top Points

Israeli army has stepped up incursions in the West Bank against  militant group Hamas. It carried out an operation overnight Thursday-Friday in a refugee camp in Jenin, a city in the northern West Bank long considered a centre of militant activity, killing at least five terrorists, said the Israeli army in a statement, according to news agency AFP.

Elsewhere, in the south of the West Bank, the Palestinian health ministry said two people were killed “by Israeli army bullets” at the entrance to the flashpoint city of Hebron.

 Al-Shifa Hospital Siege

Meanwhile, on the third day of Israel’s siege of Gaza’s al-Shifa hospital, enclave’s largest medical facility, all  patients in the intensive care unit have died, said the hospital’s director, Muhammed Abu SalmiyaMuhammed Abu Salmiya to Al Jazeera on Friday

“We are left with nothing, no power, no food, no water. with every passing minute, we are losing a life. Overnight we lost 22 persons, [and] for the past three days the hospital has been kept under siege,” Salmiya was quoted as saying by Al Jazeera.

Al Shifa hospital in Gaza City has become the target of Israeli forces, who claim Hamas fighters have their operations in a headquarters in tunnels beneath it. However, the militant group denies the claims.

Second Israeli Hostage’s Body Recovered

The body of a second Israeli hostage was recovered early Friday morning near Al-Shifa Hospital, reported media outlet CNN, citing claims by Israel. The Israeli forces also claim to have found military equipment inside the hospital and have discovered a tunnel shaft. This comes amid calls from the United Nations for Israel to grant access to Gaza to investigate the claims made by it.

UN Official Appeals Israel To Allow Water Supply

United Nations human rights official Pedro Arrojo-Agudo made an appeal to Israel to stop using water as a “weapon of war” in Gaza, and allow the provision of safe drinking water.

In a statement released on Friday Arrojo-Agudo said, “Every hour that passes with Israel preventing the provision of safe drinking water in the Gaza strip, in brazen breach of international law, puts Gazans at risk of dying of thirst and diseases related to the lack of safe drinking water.”

“These frequently invisible casualties of war are preventable, and Israel must prevent them,” he further said.

Since October 7, when Hamas militants entered into Israel, killing 1,400 people and kidnapping more than 240, Israel has continuously launched military offensive in Gaza against the militant group.