By George Swarei
In a devastating turn of events, Israel’s two-week raid into Gaza has reduced the once bustling Al-Shifa Hospital to rubble, leaving over 400 Palestinian civilians, including doctors seeking shelter, dead within its compound. Ambassador of the state of Palestine to Harare, Dr. Tamer Almassri, vehemently condemns the actions of the Israeli occupation forces, labeling them as among the greatest barbarities in human history.
The aftermath of the raid paints a grim picture, with dozens of bodies, some in advanced stages of decomposition, discovered in and around the medical complex, now rendered completely non-operational. The destruction wrought by the Israeli forces spared no department, building, or infrastructure within the Al-Shifa Complex. Bulldozed roads and buried bodies make it challenging to ascertain the exact death toll, further compounded by the destruction of nearby residential units.
Israeli authorities stand accused of targeting Gaza’s hospitals deliberately, turning them into battlegrounds under the pretext of rooting out Palestinian fighters. The latest assault saw the targeting and killing of seven aid workers from the US-based humanitarian group World Central Kitchen, further exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.
The state of Palestine denounces the massacre of six families, resulting in the deaths of at least 63 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip over the past 24 hours alone. The toll of Palestinian casualties from the Israeli onslaught since October 7 has reached a staggering 32,845 reported fatalities, with tens of thousands more sustaining injuries, a majority of whom are women and children.
The international community’s response has been one of outrage and calls for immediate action. Calls for the implementation of the latest UN Security Council resolution demanding a ceasefire in Gaza and additional measures announced by the International Court of Justice are being echoed worldwide.
As the dust settles over the ruins of Al-Shifa Hospital, the world watches with bated breath, hoping for a swift end to the violence and justice for the victims of this senseless tragedy.