Palestinians ‘living among rubble’ after fleeing Israeli ground invasion of Rafah: UN
The UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) has reported that people displaced by the Israeli military order to clear Rafah are now living in dire conditions in nearby Khan Younis.
Of the more than 800,000 people who heeded the Israeli military order on May 6 to leave Rafah, almost 150,000 have registered for UNRWA assistance in Khan Younis in the past 10 days and there has been a 36 percent increase in those requiring shelter at UN facilities in the area.
Those in need of help are “families living among rubble in damaged schools, lacking tents, essential services and vital supplies”, UNRWA said.
Palestinians walk by houses destroyed by Israeli strikes on Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip, on May 22
Israeli forces kill 16 Palestinians in attack on mosque in Gaza City
Witnesses are saying that Israeli forces bombed the Fatima al-Zahra Mosque in northern Gaza City a short while ago, killing at least 16 people and wounding many more. Most of the victims were displaced women and children taking shelter at the mosque, which also houses a Quran school, the witnesses said. The victims included at least 10 children.
The Israeli raid also caused severe damage to the mosque and surrounding buildings on al-Sahaba Street in the Daraj neighbourhood.
We are also following a separate Israeli attack on the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza that killed at least eight Palestinians.
One Palestinian killed in Israeli shelling of Rafah
Our colleagues at Al Jazeera Arabic are reporting heavy shelling on Rafah as Israeli troops advance further into the heart of the southern city.
Gaza’s civil defence teams said at least one Palestinian has been killed in the attacks so far.
WHO chief makes ‘urgent’ appeal as Israeli forces storm Gaza’s al-Awda Hospital
WHO chief Tedros Ghebreyesus has “urgently” called for the protection of patients, staff and civilians as Israeli forces have “invaded” the al-Awda Hospital, which has been under siege from Israel’s troops and tanks since Sunday.
In a post on social media, Tedros said 140 medical staff, patients and their civilian companions were inside the hospital when it was raided by Israeli soldiers earlier today. Troops ordered everyone to leave except 12 members of staff, including the hospital director, 14 patients and eight companions.
Tedros appealed for those ordered to remain behind by Israeli forces to be protected and allowed to leave safely.
“WHO urgently calls for the protection of patients, companions and health workers inside the hospital and safe passage for their evacuation,” he said.
Earlier, the WHO chief said the Kamal Adwan Hospital, also in northern Gaza’s Jabalia area, was “no longer functioning” after all patients and staff were evacuated following multiple Israeli missile strikes on the facility on Wednesday.
Earlier today, Al-Awda Hospital in northern #Gaza was reportedly invaded. The hospital had been under siege since 19 May.
A total of 140 hospital staff, patients, and companions were inside the hospital at the time.
12 hospital staff, including the hospital director, 14…
— Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) May 22, 2024
