Health officials said Rafah's Abu Youssef al-Najjar Hospital, in an area designated by the Israeli army as a combat zone, were forced to evacuate as Hamas said it was battling Israeli troops on the outskirts of the crowded southern city.

Jerusalem

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that Israel is 'at war' following a surprise attack from Gaza by Hamas militants.

Israel-Gaza War

Abu Youssef al-Najjar Hospital in Rafah, located in a region declared by the Israeli army as a combat zone amid ongoing military operations, has ceased functioning. Health officials have reported the evacuation of approximately 200 patients to safer areas in the city's west, following directives advising them to vacate the premises.

The cessation of the hospital's services comes amidst intensified conflict in the area, with Hamas engaging Israeli troops on the outskirts of Rafah, a densely populated city in southern Gaza. The confrontation has led to significant casualties, with many in critical condition succumbing to their injuries either on-site, in field hospitals, or in other medical facilities like Kuwaiti Hospital.

Israel has announced plans for a major offensive against Hamas fighters believed to be positioned in Rafah, prompting warnings from western countries and the United Nations about the potential for wide-scale humanitarian impact. Over a million people currently seeking refuge in the city could face dire consequences.

The Israeli government has instructed civilians in Rafah to relocate to an expanded humanitarian zone approximately 12 miles away in al-Mawassi. However, residents have expressed skepticism about the safety of any location within Gaza, as bombardments continue to threaten the purported secure zones.

As hostilities escalate, a mass displacement within Rafah is underway, with countless attempting to flee the conflict-ridden area. Amidst these developments, the Israeli military has released footage claiming to depict its operations within Rafah, though the exact details of the video have not been independently verified.

This recent surge in violence follows a pause by the U.S. administration in weapon shipments to Israel, signalling potential concern over the planned offensive in Rafah. This halt marks a notable shift since the Biden administration's previous assurances of unwavering support for Israel post-Hamas's attack on October 7, which resulted in considerable casualties.

The conflict has seen a tremendous loss of life, with the Gaza Health Ministry reporting over 34,000 Palestinian deaths, a majority being civilians, since Israel commenced its retaliatory offensive. Additionally, the current conflict has exacerbated the humanitarian situation by restricting access to vital aid, with the closure of the Rafa border crossing, a crucial passage for the evacuation of wounded individuals and the delivery of aid.

Efforts for a ceasefire continue, with talks expected in Cairo, despite Israel's rejection of a three-phase proposal previously agreed upon by Hamas, citing dilution of terms.



Hospital in Rafah stops operating amid Israeli bombs

These are the empty corridors of Rafa's Abu Yusuf al-Najjar Hospital. It's located in an area of the southern Gazan city that has been designated by the Israeli army as a combat zone as part of its military operations there. Health officials said around 200 patients in that hospital were forced to evacuate to the west of the city. After receiving calls warning them to leave, the hospital has had to stop services. Hamas said it was battling Israeli forces in the east of Rafa on Wednesday. Mohamed Sakou is a Palestinian doctor. The situation is most of them who are critical are dying in the field, are dying in the field hospitals or dying in the Kuwaiti and other field hospitals. Israel has threatened a major assault on Rafa to defeat thousands of Hamas fighters it says are holed up there. Western nations and the United Nations have warned a full-scale attack on the city would be a humanitarian catastrophe since more than a million people are sheltering there. Israel has told civilians in Rafa to go to an expanded humanitarian zone in al-Mawassi, some 12 miles away. But Palestinians like Ahmad Houbi, who lives in east Rafa, said there is no safe place in the Gaza Strip anymore. There is nowhere safe in Gaza. The shelling exposes their lies about the safe areas. There are no safe areas. Hundreds of thousands are now on the move again, trying to flee the city. The Israeli military released a video on Wednesday that it says shows its operation in Rafa. Reuters was not able to independently verify all locations or the date the video was filmed. This came after a U.S. official said President Joe Biden's administration paused a shipment of weapons to Israel last week in an apparent response to the expected Rafa offensive. It would be the first such delay since the Biden administration offered its ironclad support to Israel. After Hamas' October 7 attack, Israeli tallies said about 1,200 people were killed and more than 250 others were taken hostage. The Gaza Health Ministry says Israel's subsequent offensive has killed over 34,000 Palestinians, most of them civilians. It said on Wednesday that the Rafa border crossing between Gaza and Egypt was still closed, after Israeli tanks pushed into the complex there the day before. It has cut off a vital aid route and the only exit for the evacuation of wounded patients. Israel said it was reopening the other crossing in southern Gaza, Kerem Shalom, through which most aid to Gaza has been delivered recently. In Cairo, ceasefire talks were expected to continue on Wednesday, according to two Egyptian sources. Israel on Monday declared that a three-phase proposal approved by Hamas was unacceptable because terms had been watered down.

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Council of the City of Sydney

Police officer stabbed in Sydney CBD

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Kharkiv

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Israel-Gaza War