Israeli forces besiege Gaza hospital as Hamas offers truce terms

In Jerusalem, a critical situation is unfolding as Israeli forces have besieged a hospital in northern Gaza. This action is part of a broader military offensive aimed at seizing territory in the region, as reported by the Hamas-run health ministry. The Indonesian Hospital, located in Beit Lahia, has come under heavy fire, which has severely hindered the arrival of patients, medical staff, and essential supplies. The health ministry made this announcement on Sunday. The Israeli military has stated that it has initiated extensive ground operations over the past day, as part of a new offensive dubbed 'Operation Gideon's Chariots', which is focused on dismantling Hamas. This week has witnessed one of the deadliest waves of air strikes on Gaza in recent months. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have indicated that their troops are targeting what they describe as 'terrorist infrastructure sites' in northern Gaza, particularly in the vicinity of the Indonesian hospital. According to the health ministry, three public hospitals in the northern Gaza governorate are currently out of operation. In the last 24 hours alone, at least 67 individuals have lost their lives, and 361 have sustained injuries. Mohammed Salha, the director of the al-Awda private hospital in northern Gaza, spoke to the BBC on Sunday, expressing concern that the closure of the Indonesian Hospital would significantly impact the level of care he can provide. He noted that al-Awda relies on the Indonesian Hospital for oxygen supplies and for its intensive care unit. Mr. Salha also reported that a bombing occurred near his hospital overnight, causing considerable damage that staff are now working to repair swiftly. On Tuesday, Israeli air strikes targeted two of the largest hospitals in Khan Younis, namely the Nasser Medical Complex and the European Hospital. The Israeli military has accused Hamas of concealing a command and control center beneath the European Hospital, claiming that they conducted a 'precise strike' on Hamas terrorists. Reports from Israeli media suggest that the target of this strike was a senior Hamas figure, Mohammed Sinwar, who is the younger brother of the former Hamas leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar. On Saturday, Israeli strikes again hit the southern city of Khan Younis, as well as towns in northern Gaza, including Beit Lahia and the Jabalia refugee camp, according to the health ministry and civil defense rescuers. Since Israel resumed its strikes on March 18, following the collapse of a fragile ceasefire that lasted two months, thousands of people have been killed. The Israeli military has stated that the expansion of its campaign is aimed at achieving all objectives of the war, which include the release of hostages and the defeat of Hamas. Aid agencies have raised alarms about the risk of famine among Gaza's 2. 1 million residents, as disturbing footage and accounts have emerged of malnourished children suffering from severe malnutrition. For the past ten weeks, Israel has been blocking the entry of food and other essential aid into the territory. On Saturday, new indirect talks aimed at securing a ceasefire were held in Qatar, just hours after Israel launched its major new offensive. Hamas has proposed to release nine hostages in exchange for a 60-day truce, according to a Palestinian official who spoke to the BBC. The official indicated that the proposed deal would also facilitate the entry of 400 aid trucks per day and allow for the evacuation of medical patients from Gaza. In response, Israel has demanded proof of life and detailed information regarding all remaining hostages. Prior to the talks, Israel stated that it would not withdraw its troops from Gaza or commit to ending the war. Earlier this month, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had promised a significant military escalation in the conflict, aiming to occupy and control large areas of Gaza, force the Palestinian population southward, and ultimately 'destroy' Hamas. The war was ignited by Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in approximately 1,200 fatalities and over 250 individuals taken hostage. Currently, around 58 hostages remain in Gaza, with up to 23 believed to be alive. The ongoing military campaign has resulted in the deaths of more than 53,000 Palestinians.