Dozens killed in Israeli strike on Gaza medical convoy

Dozens of Palestinians were killed as Israeli strike hit ambulance convoy carrying wounded when it was leaving al-Shifa Hospital, Gaza officials said on Friday.

In a separate attack, children among at least 14 Palestinians killed while escaping south along Gaza’s coastal road, according to officials. At least 9,227 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza since October 7. More than 1,400 people have been killed in Israel.

Palestinians check the damages after a convoy of ambulances was hit, at the entrance of Shifa hospital in Gaza City [Mohammed Al-Masri/Reuters]

WHO chief was ‘utterly shocked’ by attacks on ambulances near al-Shifa Hospital. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus renewed his call for a ceasefire in light of the attack.

Also read: Hassan Nasrallah threatens escalation: Will Hezbollah join the war?

“We reiterate: patients, health workers, facilities and ambulances must be protected at all times. Always,” he wrote on social media.

Israel cut off fuel supply to Gaza along with electricity immediately after the Oct. 7 attack and Gaza health authorities have said most medical services may shut down. Israel says Hamas has taken fuel from hospitals.

Smoke rises from an Israeli airstrike in the Gaza Strip, as seen from Israel, November 3, 2023. REUTERS/Amir Cohen Acquire Licensing Rights

Food and medicine supplies, brought in across the Rafah border crossing with Egypt since last week, are only going to southern parts of Gaza.

In southern parts of the enclave the lack of clean water means many people have started using seawater to bathe and clean, while full hospitals and the fuel shortages mean doctors are struggling to help the sick and wounded.

Meanwhile, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah said that Israel is pursuing goal it cannot achieve, as he delivers his first public speech since start of the war.

Hezbollah have been escalating day by day, forcing Israel to keep its forces near the Lebanese border instead of the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank, Nasrallah said in a televised address.

“What’s happening on the border might seem modest but is very important.”

Nasrallah blamed the United States for for the war in Gaza and the high civilian death toll and that a de-escalation in the besieged enclave was vital to prevent regional war.