Gaza Civil Defense: Israel refuses to allow access to wounded in Gaza City

In a statement, spokesperson for the organisation Mahmoud Basal says that Israel refuses to coordinate with international groups such as the Red Cross in order to allow rescue crews access to “hundreds” of wounded Palestinians in the vicinity of al-Shifa Hospital in north Gaza.“The occupation’s decision to prevent coordination is an extension of the policy of slow execution of innocent and wounded citizens under siege,” Basal says.

On Monday, Israeli forces launched a new assault on the medical complex and its surrounding area, killing at least 90 people and detaining hundreds.

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says preparations are under way for the invasion of Rafah, but an operation “will take some time”.

In a video statement, Netanyahu said he will soon approve a plan for the evacuation of about 1.5 million Palestinian civilians from fighting areas after having greenlit the military’s operation.

He said he appreciated the support of US President Joe Biden, who he asked to present proposals on humanitarian assistance and other aspects of the war.The army would “continue to operate in Khan Younis, in the central camps, for the elimination and capture of senior Hamas officials as we just did in Shifa Hospital, while eliminating hundreds of terrorists”, Netanyahu added.

“As I promised you time and time again – we are determined to achieve absolute victory, and we will achieve it,” he said.