Hospitals go dark in Gaza as pressure on Israel for cease-fire intensifies

John Yang:

Good evening, I'm John Yang. Tonight, international aid organizations are raising alarms about conditions of Gaza as main hospital which Israel's war against Hamas has left without power. The head of the International Committee of the Red Cross says it's an unbearably desperate situation.

The U.N. humanitarian chief says there is no justification for what's happening. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Hamas is responsible for Palestinian civilian casualties because they use them as shields.

Our report tonight is from special correspondent Leila Molana-Allen.

Leila Molana-Allen:

As Israel's bombardment continues and ground forces penetrate deeper into Gaza, hospitals like Al Quds are going dark, losing power amid the destruction. A local journalists captured an explosion last night at Gaza's Indonesian hospital. The Palestinian Quds News network reports that surgeries there have halted and the Hamas run Gaza Health Ministry said today Al-Shifa Hospital, the territories largest medical facility can no longer do surgeries or run life support equipment after running out of fuel.

Doctors Without Borders and other medical NGOs claimed patients inside the hospital were fired upon. Palestinian health Minister Mai al-Kaila called for more to be done.

Dr. Mai al-Kaila, Palestinian Health Minister: That hospital Al-Shifa is the main hospital in Gaza Strip, it is now threatened by — because it lacks oxygen, it lacks electricity, it lacks fuel.

Leila Molana-Allen:

The Israeli military says there is fighting near Al Shifa but no siege all strikes on it. And today a military spokesperson added that Israeli forces will help evacuate babies from Al Shifa tomorrow. Israel claims Hamas has built command centers under Al-Shifa and other hospitals. Hamas denies this.

Over 800 miles away in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia today, dozens of leaders at an Islamic Arab summit called for an immediate end to the war in Gaza. More in the West are also adding pressure on Israel. French President Emmanuel Macron last night on the BBC joined the growing calls for a ceasefire.

Emmanuel Macron, French President:

I think there is no justification precisely to attack civilians.

Leila Molana-Allen:

In London, hundreds of thousands marched on Armistice Day in support of Palestinians. Dozens were arrested. In Tel Aviv friends and family of one of the more than 230 people taken hostage by Hamas marched in her name.

Back in Gaza as the conflict rages with no end in sight, thousands more Palestinians from Al-Shifa and elsewhere today fled to southern Gaza, a journey marked by desperation.

Khalil Ayoub, Displaced Palestinian (through translator):

The road is all suffering, suffering that the devil itself wouldn't think of. I witnessed three conflicts and I have never witnessed something like this one. I don't know where my sons are. My wife needs kidney dialysis, there is no hospital. There are no signs of life. We in the animals are the same.

Leila Molana-Allen:

For PBS News Weekend, I'm Leila Molana-Allen in Tel Aviv.