Gaza City, November 13 (RHC)-- Gaza’s two largest hospitals, Al-Shifa and Al-Quds, have closed as Gaza’s health system collapses under relentless Israeli bombardment and blockades. 

At least six premature babies and nine other patients have died at Al-Shifa due to shortages of electricity.  Photos show premature babies removed from their incubators and placed together on a bed for warmth as the last remaining hospital workers are forced to resort to desperate measures. 

Medical staff say Israeli forces have entered hospitals and actually fired at patients and forced hundreds of others onto the streets.  Doctors and officials with the Palestinian Ministry of Health pleaded with international actors to allow for the safe evacuation and treatment of patients. 

Dr. Muhammad Qandil of Nasser hospital spoke with reporters: “Hospitals are under fire.  The last example is Shifa Hospital ICU.  There is another private obstetric hospital was targeted directly today, and two of our colleagues who are specialists in obstetrics and gynecology were killed tonight.  There is no service for pediatric patients in the northern area.  Five kids in the pediatric ICU left alone in Rantisi Hospital, and we don’t know what’s going on with them.  The communications were lost, so they might be dead or alive.  So, now in Shifa Hospital, they cannot deal with the dead bodies.  There is a tent of dead bodies back in the hospital.”