US President Joe Biden expressed concern over the situation in Gaza as Israeli tanks advanced towards Al Shifa Hospital, the city's primary medical center. Biden emphasized the need to protect hospitals in the Gaza Strip and called for "less intrusive" actions by Israel.
Israeli tanks positioned themselves outside Al Shifa Hospital, claiming that the hospital sits atop tunnels housing a Hamas headquarters, an assertion that the group denies.
The armed wing of Hamas expressed readiness to release up to 70 women and children held in Gaza in exchange for a five-day truce. Gaza medical authorities reported over 11,000 confirmed deaths due to Israeli bombardment, with about 40% of the casualties being children. The military campaign has displaced roughly two-thirds of Gaza's population.
Gaza health ministry spokesperson Ashraf Al-Qidra, who was inside Al Shifa hospital, reported 32 patient deaths in the past three days, including three newborns. Israel claimed to have initiated a humanitarian effort to transfer incubators to Al Shifa but stated that none had been received by the hospital.
At least 650 patients were still inside Al Shifa hospital, desperate to be evacuated to another medical facility.
"My hope and expectation is that there will be less intrusive action relative to hospitals, and we remain in contact with the Israelis," Biden told reporters at the White House on Monday.
"Also there is an effort to get this pause to deal with the release of prisoners, and that's being negotiated, as well, with the Qataris ... being engaged," he added. "So I remain somewhat hopeful but hospitals must be protected."
President Biden, in his first remarks on the recent events, underscored the importance of protecting hospitals. Israel contends that Hamas uses hospitals for military purposes, presenting video and photos of alleged weapons stored in the basement of Rantissi Hospital.
Hostages or ceasefire?
The armed wing of Hamas proposed a ceasefire in exchange for the release of hostages, an offer likely to be met with scepticism from Israel. While Israel has rejected a ceasefire, it has allowed brief humanitarian pauses for the flow of supplies and the evacuation of foreigners.
White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan expressed the desire for longer pauses in the context of a hostage release. Reports suggest that Israel and Hamas may be close to a deal to free kidnapped individuals, with an announcement possible in the coming days.
Fighting also erupted at al-Quds, another major hospital in northern Gaza, which has ceased functioning. The Palestinian Red Crescent reported difficulties in evacuating patients and staff due to heavy gunfire. Israel claimed to have killed terrorists at al-Quds in response to firing from the hospital entrance.
In the last day, Israel reported the killing of several Hamas commanders and officials, including Mohammed Khamis Dababash, described as the group's former head of military intelligence. Hamas media reported over 30 casualties in an Israeli airstrike on the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza, a claim the Israeli army is checking.
