In the face of an impending ground invasion aimed at Hamas terrorists, the Israeli military has extended the evacuation deadline for Gaza City's primary hospital by an additional 10 hours.
However, the medical staff at the facility have chosen to stand their ground, refusing to comply with the new deadline.
The Palestine Red Crescent Society, a humanitarian aid organization operating under the Red Cross, issued a resolute statement, "We cannot evacuate the hospital." The group emphasized the critical role of Al Quds Hospital in providing life-saving services to a significant number of Palestinian patients and wounded individuals. The hospital has also become a refuge for hundreds of civilians amidst the escalating conflict.
On the previous day, Israel had ordered a large-scale evacuation of approximately 1.1 million Palestinians from the northern Gaza Strip within a 24-hour window. This directive was deemed "impossible" by the United Nations. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) initially set an 11 p.m. Friday ET deadline for the hospital to evacuate its staff and patients. However, the deadline was extended as thousands of civilians congested the war-torn enclave's roads in a desperate bid to escape the anticipated bloodshed.
Israel has consistently accused Hamas, the ruling party in Gaza since 2007, of using civilians as human shields. While Hamas denies these allegations, it has advised its citizens against leaving the area.
In retaliation for the October 7 terror attack that resulted in over 1,300 Israeli casualties and at least 120 civilian hostages, Israeli forces have launched more than 6,000 airstrikes on Gaza. These attacks have disrupted essential services, cutting off electricity, water, and food supplies.
The relentless bombardment has reportedly claimed the lives of over 2,200 Palestinians, according to Hamas. In response to the escalating crisis, the IDF issued new directives early Saturday, instructing those in Gaza's densely populated northern region to move south along specified routes to ensure their safety. The IDF's warning was clear: "If you care about yourself and your loved ones, go south as instructed."
IDF spokesperson Maj. (Res.) Doron Spielman confirmed that the warning had been disseminated in Arabic and other languages across all available platforms. IDF chief Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi pledged on Thursday to "dismantle" Hamas, ominously stating, "Gaza will not look the same."
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