Heavy fighting spurs 'catastrophic' scene at Gaza hospital

Gaza's 'Out of Service' Hospitals, Say Newborns Are Dying, as Fighting Intensifies. NBC reports that the Palestinian Health Ministry has said that patients, including newborns, at Gaza's largest hospital are dying amid power failures and lack of resources. . The hospital in Gaza City has been "out of service" since the morning of November 11 amid intense fighting and heavy bombardment. . The ministry released a statement saying that three babies, as well as over ten other patients, have died since the hospital lost power due to ongoing fuel shortages. According to the ministry, at least 35 babies born prematurely at Al-Shifa hospital face the possibility of "death at any moment.". If they stay in this condition, they are going to all die, Dr. Marwan Abusada, Surgeon at the hospital who is also the head of international cooperation at the Health Ministry, via NBC. NBC reports that the situation for hospitals in Gaza has grown more dire amid an overwhelming surge of patients as fighting intensified. . On November 12, the Israel Defense Forces announced that evacuation routes would be opened from Al-Shifa and two other Gaza City hospitals. On November 12, the Israel Defense Forces announced that evacuation routes would be opened from Al-Shifa and two other Gaza City hospitals. According to the IDF, soldiers had "opened and secured a passage which enables the civilian population to evacuate, on foot and by ambulances” from the three hospitals. However, NBC reports that staff at the hospitals say that evacuation has been impossible amid ongoing fighting in the surrounding area. . While tens of thousands of people have already fled northern Gaza, doctors say there is no way to evacuate patients with serious conditions and injuries. . While tens of thousands of people have already fled northern Gaza, doctors say there is no way to evacuate patients with serious conditions and injuries.