Iran, Oman denounce Israel's barbaric siege of al-Shifa hospital

March 25, 2024 - 13:56

TEHRAN - The foreign ministers of Iran and Oman say world bodies should take firm and immediate action to prevent Israel from committing more crimes against the Palestinian people, according to Press TV.

In a phone conversation on Sunday, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian and his Omani counterpart Sayyid Badr al-Busaidi denounced the continuation of Israel's crimes in the Gaza Strip, especially the regime's barbaric and inhuman siege of al-Shifa hospital and the killing of its patients and medical staff.

Israel first raided al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City last November, saying that the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas used it as a command center. Hamas officials have rejected the accusations on several occasions.

On March 18, Israeli occupation forces started a new wave of attacks on the medical complex and imposed a siege on it.

Al-Shifa used to be the Gaza Strip’s largest hospital before the current conflict started. It is now one of the few partially operational healthcare facilities in the north.

Tanks ‘crushed bodies’ at al-Shifa hospital

Palestinians who have fled the ongoing Israeli siege of al-Shifa hospital say Israeli tanks and armored bulldozers drove over at least four bodies and ambulances.

Israeli forces have also surrounded al-Amal and Nasser hospitals in southern Gaza.

Israel also informed the UN it would no longer approve UNRWA food convoys to north Gaza, where 70 percent of people face an extreme level of food scarcity.

Mediation efforts to end the bloodshed in Gaza appear to be struggling, with a Hamas official telling Al Jazeera that Israeli negotiators have rejected their latest proposals for a ceasefire.

At least 32,226 Palestinians have been killed and 74,518 wounded in Israeli attacks on Gaza since October 7.