The story revolves around the escalating conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip. On November 19, Israel announced that they had discovered a 55-meter fortified tunnel under Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza. This discovery raised concerns about the safety of patients and staff in the hospital.
On November 20, heavy fighting broke out around Al-Shifa Hospital, with reports of gunfire and explosions. The hospital, which is the largest in Gaza, was sheltering scores of trauma patients who were unable to be evacuated. Reports emerged that the hospital had come under shelling, resulting in the deaths of at least 12 people. The situation in the hospital was described as a "nightmare" by the families of patients and hostages.
Amidst the fighting, 31 premature babies from Al-Shifa Hospital were successfully evacuated to Egypt. The infants were flown to Egypt through the Rafah Crossing with the help of international organizations. However, many other patients, including trauma patients, remained trapped in the hospital due to the ongoing violence.
There were also reports that Hamas had taken hostages, including foreign nationals, within the hospital. Israel claimed that a soldier had been executed by Hamas while attempting to rescue the hostages. Prime Minister Naftali Bennett accused Hamas of using the hospital as a "human shield".
The international community expressed grave concern about the situation. The United Nations and the World Health Organization called for the protection of medical facilities and the safe evacuation of patients. U.S. President Joe Biden faced criticism domestically for his handling of the conflict, with approval ratings hitting their lowest point.
Negotiations for a deal to free the hostages in Gaza were reportedly underway, but it was unclear whether an agreement had been reached. The situation remained tense and uncertain, with both sides continuing to exchange fire.
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