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 [Reuters]. 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 Globe and Mail]. The hospital, which is the largest in Gaza, was sheltering scores of trauma patients who were unable to be evacuated [The New York Daily News]. Reports emerged that the hospital had come under shelling, resulting in the deaths of at least 12 people [Chicago Tribune]. The situation in the hospital was described as a "nightmare" by the families of patients and hostages [France 24].
Amidst the fighting, 31 premature babies from Al-Shifa Hospital were successfully evacuated to Egypt [NBC News]. The infants were flown to Egypt through the Rafah Crossing with the help of international organizations [Global News]. However, many other patients, including trauma patients, remained trapped in the hospital due to the ongoing violence [The Seattle Times].
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 [ABC News]. Prime Minister Naftali Bennett accused Hamas of using the hospital as a "human shield" [The Guardian].
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 [Sky News]. U.S. President Joe Biden faced criticism domestically for his handling of the conflict, with approval ratings hitting their lowest point [Hindustan Times].
Negotiations for a deal to free the hostages in Gaza were reportedly underway, but it was unclear whether an agreement had been reached [The Sydney Morning Herald]. The situation remained tense and uncertain, with both sides continuing to exchange fire [Al Jazeera].
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