Nurses recall horror of Israeli raid, interrogations, saying troops beat and humiliated them as they refused to go away sufferers behind.
The Indonesian Hospital, one among northern Gaza’s largest healthcare amenities, was so severely broken in Israeli assaults that it might by no means open once more.
On Saturday, Munir al-Bursh, director-general of the Ministry of Well being in Gaza, instructed Al Jazeera, “We’re in shock and horrified on the scenes left by Israeli forces on the Indonesian Hospital.”
Israeli tanks and snipers had laid siege to the hospital in Beit Lahia for days, earlier than concentrating on its predominant generator and raiding it within the early hours of Friday, shortly earlier than a four-day truce between Israel and Hamas got here into impact.
The ministry stated on Friday that the hospital was present process “heavy bombardment” by the Israeli military and that there was worry for the lives of 200 injured individuals and medical workers. It added that intense Israeli fireplace killed a wounded lady and injured at the least three others.
Now in ruins, the hospital is overwhelmed with giant numbers of wounded individuals amid extreme shortages in medical provides. “Corridors have develop into wards and surgeons function on the ground,” stated Al Jazeera’s Osama Bin Javaid, who gained entry to the ability.
“Outdoors the hospital constructing, the stench of dying forces individuals to cowl their nostril, as charred and decomposing our bodies, kids amongst them, pile up in corners. No burials have taken place for days as a result of Israeli snipers focused anybody who ventured out to dig a grave,” he stated.
Reporting from the hospital after the raid, Anas al-Sharif, one of many few remaining journalists in northern Gaza, stated, “The occupation forces have broken and destroyed giant components of the hospital. There’s been main destruction right here. Even tools and provides have been ruined by occupation forces.”
Recalling the horror of the Israeli raid and interrogation of hospital workers, a nurse instructed Al Jazeera, “After they stormed the hospital we instructed them we’re nurses, civilians, and that we have now kids and sick individuals right here.”
“They interrogated me and three different nurses. They requested me in regards to the resistance and if there have been any fighters right here. They requested in regards to the entrances and exits of the hospital. We have been all panicking. We have been very scared,” she added.
One other nurse recalled how Israeli forces focused the ability’s fourth flooring with a missile and lower off electrical energy and solar energy to the buildings.
“We had 25 individuals with damaged pelvises who couldn’t be moved. They blew up this entrance, they shot the sufferers inside. They searched us one after the other and scanned everybody’s faces. I instructed them I’m a nurse,” the male nurse from the emergency division instructed Al Jazeera.
“They took me to this nook and beat me, and requested me many questions on the hospital, the Israeli captives and hostages – whether or not I do know something about them. Each query was accompanied by a slap.
“After they left, we might’ve gone however I promised I might by no means go away my sufferers alone and that I might be the final one to go away this hospital,” stated the nurse.
A whole lot of displaced individuals had beforehand sought asylum on the hospital, which can also be near the Jabalia refugee camp.
With the ability out of service for weeks and the injury extreme, it stays unclear whether or not it should ever reopen.