Israel strikes hospital as Gaza hostages receive medical aid after deal struck
Israeli forces have launched an intense assault near a hospital without prior evacuation orders, causing patients to ‘flee in panic’, as medicine for hostages will be delivered in Gaza.
Civilians displaced by the war in Gaza have been rushing to flee as Israeli forces attacked the area around Al Nasser, the main hospital in the southern city of Khan Yunis.
Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said that Israeli forces carried out heavy bombardment near the hospital without prior evacuation orders, causing patients and displaced Palestinians seeking refuge in the hospital to “flee in panic”.
During a visit today to the hospital, MSF’s Head of Mission for Palestine Leo Cans said that conditions at Nasser, the largest remaining functional hospital in Gaza, were “catastrophic” and that the facility was operating at 300 percent capacity.
“At Nasser hospital, MSF provides emergency care and surgical treatment for patients including those with traumatic and severe burn injuries,” the group said in a social media post. “Our activities have been significantly reduced since December due to the intense bombing around the facility.”
More than 24,000 people have been killed in Gaza since the war began, including more than 10,000 children, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.
Meanwhile, More than 60,000 have been injured, and thousands more are missing and presumed dead.
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US FORCES TARGET 14 READY-TO-LAUNCH MISSILES IN YEMEN
American forces targeted 14 missiles that were ready to launch in Yemen, according to the US military.
The launch, on Wednesday, came after Washington re-designated the Iran-backed Huthi rebels as a “terrorist” entity for their attacks on merchant vessels.
The Huthis -- who have already faced multiple rounds of air strikes in response to their targeting of international shipping -- struck a US-owned bulk cargo carrier in the wake of the designation announcement, and vowed to continue attacks they say are in support of Palestinians in Gaza.
US forces “conducted strikes on 14 Iran-backed Huthi missiles that were loaded to be fired in Huthi-controlled areas in Yemen,” Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a statement.
“These missiles on launch rails presented an imminent threat to merchant vessels and US Navy ships in the region and could have been fired at any time, prompting US forces to exercise their inherent right and obligation to defend themselves,” CENTCOM said.
The United States announced earlier on Wednesday that it would return the Huthis to a list of “terrorist” entities.
“The Department of State today is announcing the designation of Ansarallah, commonly referred to as the Huthis, as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist group, effective 30 days from today,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement.
To read more on the Australia’s military engagement in Houthi fight, click here.
COMMUNICATIONS BLACKOUT HAMPERING RESCUE SERVICES
The human rights watchdog Amnesty International has said that a six-day telecommunications blackout has put civilians at risk, hampered the work of rescue services and complicated aid delivery efforts.
“These recurrent and life-threatening blackouts must not be normalized. An immediate ceasefire is critical to urgently restore power and connectivity to Gazans,” the group said in a social media post, noting that the communications blackout is the ninth imposed by Israeli forces since the beginning of the current round of fighting.
Since last Friday the occupied #Gaza Strip has been plunged into a communications blackout for the ninth time since the war began pic.twitter.com/ezD8mcvcDf
— Amnesty MENA (@AmnestyMENA) January 17, 2024
GAZA HOSTAGES RECEIVE MEDICAL AID AFTER DEAL STRUCK
The first of two shipments of medicine and humanitarian equipment for dozens of Israeli hostages still being held by Hamas reached the Kerem Shalom crossing, where they underwent an inspection by Israeli security forces, the Coordinator of Government Activities (COGAT) in the Territories confirmed Wednesday afternoon local time.
Earlier, the supplies arrived in Egypt en route to hostages in Gaza as part of a deal brokered by France and Qatar.
A Qatari air force plane carrying the medications bought in France based on an Israeli list had landed at the el-Arish airport and the Egyptian Red Crescent rescue service was transferring it to the Rafah border crossing with Gaza, an Egyptian official confirmed.
As part of the agreement between Israel and Hamas – the first since the November ceasefire – each of the remaining 45 hostages will receive a three-month supply of vital medicine for chronic conditions, as well as other types of drugs and vitamins.
Several older men are among the captives who have been held in Gaza for more than 100 days.
The International Committee of the Red Cross will co-ordinate the delivery of the supplies on the ground.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed the deal. Forty-five hostages are expected to receive medication under the agreement, according to the French presidency.
Under the agreement, Israel must be provided with proof that the medicine did reach the hostages.
“We hope that the drug deal will finally materialise and they will reach their destination,” an Israeli official told the Jerusalem Post.
“Qatar will guarantee the delivery of the drugs to the abductees. The success of the deal will create a good dynamic for achieving a deal to release the abductees.”
In return, medical and humanitarian aid will be distributed to civilians in the most “affected and vulnerable” areas of the Gaza Strip, said Qatari foreign ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari.
A senior Hamas official, Musa Abu Marzouk, wrote on X that for every box of medicine provided for the hostages, 1,000 boxes of aid would be sent in for Palestinians.
The International Committee of the Red Cross will distribute the medicines in four hospitals serving all parts of the Gaza Strip, and the Israeli army will not be allowed to inspect the boxes containing the drugs, Marzouk said.
Hamas insisted that Qatar provide the medications and not France, because of the European country’s stance of “supporting the Israeli occupation,” according to a Kan News report. French and Qatari negotiators had spent months hammering out the agreement, and the initial idea had come from the families of some of the hostages, according to Philippe Lalliot, head of France’s foreign ministry crisis centre which organises aid efforts.
PENNY WONG’S PLEA TO ISRAEL
Foreign Minister Penny Wong has said Australia stands in solidarity with Israel and victims of the October 7 terror attacks but stressed to senior politicians democracies were held to a higher standard and Australians have been alarmed by the high civilian death toll in Gaza.
“The most powerful thing was the opportunity and the privilege of speaking with the families of hostages,” said Senator Wong, the most senior Australian politician to visit Israel since October 7.
“It was incredibly moving and these 102 days have been just devastating for them and I’m really grateful for that opportunity.”
Hours after departing the Jordanian capital Amman, where she pledged $21m to assist with humanitarian efforts in Gaza, Senator Wong arrived in Jerusalem to meet with President Isaac Herzog and Foreign Minister Israel Katz.
Describing Australia as a “friend of Israel”, she said Australia recognised Israel’s right to defend itself but reinforced the view that how it did so mattered, highlighting the need to place great importance on international law.
Senator Wong said Australians had strong concerns about the civilian death toll and the “dire” humanitarian situation.
She said steps needed to be taken towards a sustained ceasefire.
WONG MEETS ISRAELI HOSTAGE FAMILIES
Senator Wong was moved as she encountered a half-dozen people impacted by the events of October 7, including those who had seen family members kidnapped by Hamas terrorists.
Among them were relatives of 70-year-old Louis Har, who was taken hostage from Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak, along with his partner, Clara Merman.
“I’m really profoundly grateful that you are willing to speak with me,” Senator Wong said.
“Our nation stands in solidarity with Israel and with you. What’s important to me is not just the solidarity between our countries but … it’s also the personal pledge, the human pledge, and I’m very grateful that you are willing to, I’m sure, (have) a very difficult conversation.”
Earlier after arriving in Jordan, Senator Wong said she was “gravely concerned” by worsening conditions in Gaza. In total, Australia has provided $46 million since October.
Australians whose loved ones are still being held captive by Hamas or were killed in the October 7 terror attacks expressed dismay that Australia’s top diplomat would avoid visiting the massacre sites in southern Israel during her visit to the region.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese responded by saying, “Penny Wong’s itinerary is a matter for her”.
“We are not a central player in the Middle East, but we are a respected voice, and this visit is about us being able to express our voice and for Penny Wong to see first-hand and to have those discussions face-to-face,” he told ABC.
It comes as the Israel-Hamas war reached a grim milestone of 100 days on Sunday, with more civilian deaths in Gaza, and relatives of dozens of hostages still awaiting their freedom.
Hamas claimed that more than 24,000 people have been killed in Gaza since the October 7 attack by the terror group, which saw 1200 Israelis killed.
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US ‘HOPEFUL’ ABOUT NEW GAZA HOSTAGE TALKS
The US is “hopeful” that talks brokered by Qatar could lead to a new deal between Israel and Hamas to release hostages in exchange for a ceasefire in Gaza, the White House said, AFP reports.
“I don’t want to say too much publicly here as we have these talks, but we’re hopeful that it can bear fruit, and bear fruit soon,” National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told a briefing.
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Originally published as Israel strikes hospital as Gaza hostages receive medical aid after deal struck
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