Media release – Al-Shifa Hospital, 17 November 2023

Official Statement from Director of Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza

“The conditions are tragic, and those in the hospital are screaming from thirst.  We cannot take out the garbage from the hospital. Sniping operations continue, no one can move from one building to another, and we have lost communication with our colleagues.

Israeli drones do not stop flying over the hospital. There are Israeli recruits roaming the departments, especially the emergency department, and they pulled out the bodies.  We buried about 80 bodies, and the rest of the bodies that were in the streets or in refrigerators were removed by the occupation.

There are bodies still inside the departments and we want to remove them to avoid a health disaster occurring inside the hospital.

There are 4 dialysis patients in the final crisis now due to the lack of services.  The hospital has completely run out of oxygen, and conditions are disastrous.

The Israeli occupation’s stories about weapons in the MRI department are false.”

Israel Continues Terror Attack on Hospital 6

Tweet – Ali Abuminah, 17 November 2023

— untitled —

Catastrophe unfolding now at al-Shifa hospital: I summarize comments of hospital director Dr. Muhammad Abu Salmiya, speaking to Al Jazeera Arabic about 30 minutes ago:

There are about 7,000 people under total siege inside al-Shifa compound, including 650 injured people, 45 dialysis patients and 36 premature babies. A few hours ago one dialysis patient died and 4 are at imminent risk of death because no power for dialysis machines. Three premature babies died in recent days. Two injured persons died in recent hours due to lack of treatment.

There is no water, fuel or electricity. Israel broke the main water line into the hospital. There is no purified water to make the special formula for the babies, so they are using ordinary water and some have become sick with diarrhea, infections, fever.

There is no food. Children are starving and distressed. There is no medicine and the wounds of injured people are becoming horribly infected, some with maggots.

Hospital administrators tried to send a delegation to the occupation forces to ask for food, fuel, medicine and safe evacuation of the sick and injured but the Israelis refused to to talk to them.

The hospital is besieged from all sides by tanks and bulldozers. The bulldozers are destroying areas around the compound, but no one can see clearly what they are doing. Anyone who tries to move between hospital buildings is shot at by snipers or drones.

There are hundreds of soldiers in the hospital compound searching all over and causing severe damage to hospital premises and equipment. In the 48 hours the occupation forces have been inside the hospital or on its grounds not a single shot has been fired at them.

No one can leave the hospital or enter it. The situation is disastrous not just for people in Shifa but for anyone in Gaza City who is injured or becomes ill, because no one can reach the hospital and the hospital can’t do anything for them anyway. Anyone who has a heart attack or a stroke at home will die.

Dr. Abu Salmiya says “We hold the world responsible” for what he calls a genocide. “We are waiting for slow death.”

Israel Continues Terror Attack on Hospital 7

Newsletter – Friends of Palestine Tasmania, 16 November 2023

Vigils Continue as the Violence Continues

Community groups are determined to continue weekly peaceful vigils in Launceston and Hobart, calling on Australia to stop supporting war crimes.

You can see details on Facebook and Instagram pages – Friends of Palestine Tasmania, Launceston Stands with Palestine and the newly formed TPAN – Tasmanian Palestine Advocacy Network.

Saturday 18 November

Hobart 1pm – 3pm – Corner Davey and Argyle Streets

Launceston 2pm – Civic Square

Run for Palestine in Hobart on Saturday 25 November

You can register for the annual Run for Palestine here.

Watch Francesca Albanese on IView

Francesca Albanese, the UN’s Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian Territory occupied since 1967, spoke at the National Press Club on November 14. Watch her powerful presentation on ABC IView – her rigorous commitment to the facts and the law will energise and give you hope.

Ring or email your federal MPs and Senators 

Tell them you want an end to genocide, Australia to stop supporting war crimes and fair treatment of all people.

Donate

APAN is seeking donations to support their current work and have also identified reliable organisations supporting Gaza that you can donate to.

Inform Yourself

Useful information is always available on the website of APAN – our peak body