Inside the Tragedy at al-Shifa Hospital
Israel accuses Hamas of using hospitals as human shields
Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up!
Hey everyone,
In what appears to be a growing trend, USA Today has just hired its first ever full time Beyonce reporter.
The job description requires covering Queen Bey’s “complex business and entertainment empire,” as well as the “BeyHive,” and her influence on fashion, music and culture. It follows the hire of a full-time Taylor Swift reporter by the news chain.
Which celeb reporter is next?! We are ready to apply for the gig.
Have a good one—
Mosheh, Jill, & Courtney
🗞 GAZA HOSPITAL AT CENTER OF ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR
Gaza’s al-Shifa hospital has emerged as one of Israel’s biggest “moral challenges” of the war against Hamas. It’s Gaza’s largest medical center, but the IDF (and US officials) says it’s also a mask for Hamas’ underground lairs: underneath it lies a complex command center that Hamas uses to run its military operations.
That makes the hospital a primary target in Israel’s battle to eliminate Hamas. But how does Israel take out a terrorist group’s HQ, while protecting innocent patients and avoiding civilian casualties?
DIRE HOSPITAL CONDITIONS
Israel’s military surrounded Gaza’s main hospital yesterday, with hundreds of patients, including dozens of newborn babies, still inside. While tens of thousands who sought refuge at al-Shifa have fled since the fighting broke out, many patients in critical condition were not able to. Israel has been calling for the hospital to evacuate for more than three weeks as the fighting has intensified, and has offered to help with the transfer of patients.
The ongoing combat has left the hospital in dire condition:
The W.H.O. says al-Shifa has been without consistent power for three days.
Fuel is near empty, sparking power outages that have left the facility unable to function. Life-support systems that rely on electricity to function are out of use. Without fuel to run generators, the hospital has been plunged into darkness.
Israel says Hamas has plenty of fuel but refuses to give it to the hospital or civilians, and even tried to give the hospital fuel directly but Hamas rejected it (more on that below).
Some reports say medics are working by candlelight, and none of the operating rooms are functioning due to a lack of electricity. It’s forcing doctors to make impossibly tough choices over which lives to risk, and which to save. Several patients, including 3 babies, have died in recent days, according to hospital officials.
BABIES’ LIVES ARE AT RISK
Some of the most harrowing stories capturing the heartache of this war are of the incubators needed to keep neonatal babies warm. They cannot operate without fuel to run generators.
Doctors say they had to move the babies by hand from neonatal unit incubators to a different part of the hospital. The hospital director said some were wrapped in foil and placed next to hot water in a desperate bid to keep them alive.
Israel said it would transfer babies in need of intensive care from al-Shifa to another, safer hospital, but the nonprofit Medical Aid for Palestinians rejected the idea: “The only safe option to save these babies would be for Israel to cease its assault and besiegement of Al Shifa,” said Melanie Ward, the CEO.
Israeli PM Netanyahu reiterated yesterday that the only ceasefire he would accept is one in which the 240+ hostages are released by Hamas.
FUEL DISCREPANCY
On Sunday, the Israeli military said it had put 300 liters (80 gallons) of fuel at the entrance to the al-Shifa hospital to help fuel the generators, but that Hamas had blocked the hospital from receiving it.
The IDF released a video showing soldiers delivering the jerrycans at the hospital’s entrance, and an audio recording of what it says is a hospital official accusing a Hamas leader of Gaza’s Health Ministry refusing to allow it to be collected.
Watch and listen to both here.
Hamas said the fuel was insufficient and hospital officials rejected the offer. “Taking this fuel would give Israel credit for allowing fuel into Gaza,” one Hamas spokesman for the Gaza health ministry said.
WHAT ISRAEL IS SAYING:
Under international law, hospitals are protected during wartime, unless they are "misused” — that’s when they can become legitimate targets. The challenge Israel faces is what could be hiding underneath the al-Shifa hospital. Israel says Hamas terrorists have spent years building a sprawling command center directly underground. US intelligence backs that up. So does the European Union. Hamas has denied the accusations.
Israeli officials say in past outbreaks of fighting, the al-Shifa hospital was always spared to protect civilian life — that meant leaving whatever may be underneath it untouched.
Officials now believe that move was a mistake that cannot be repeated if Israel truly wants to wipe out Hamas in its entirety.
American officials agree with Israel’s assessment, citing their own intelligence. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said Sunday that he agrees Hamas is using hospitals and other civilian facilities as “human shields.” At the same time on Monday, President Biden called for Israel to be “less intrusive” around the hospitals.
In an interview with CNN, IDF Lt. Col. Peter Lerner said it’s possible some of the hostages are being held under the hospitals.
Another example is the Rantisi children’s hospital in Gaza, where the IDF says it has found a Hamas command center. The IDF also says it has evidence that hostages were being held there.
“Underneath the hospital, in the basement, we found a Hamas command and control center, suicide-bomb vests, grenades, AK-47 assault rifles, explosive devices, RPGs, and other weapons, computers, money, etc…. We also found signs that indicate that Hamas held hostages here.” ~ IDF Spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari
MORE OF ISRAEL’S EVIDENCE
Back to al-Shifa, the IDF revealed 3D replications of the Hamas complex it believes is lying beneath the surface of the hospital, along with audio recordings that allegedly show Hamas discussing their base under al-Shifa.
⏳ SPEED READ
🚨NATION
📌 The Supreme Court says it is adopting a code of ethics, but it has no means of enforcement (AP)
📌 With GOP opposition, Speaker Mike Johnson would need Democratic votes to pass plan to avert shutdown (ABC NEWS)
📌 Los Angeles braces for a transportation ‘crisis’ as part of Interstate 10 is closed indefinitely after massive blaze (CNN)
📌 Secret Service agent fires gun amid car break-in while protecting Biden granddaughter (FOX NEWS)
🌎 AROUND THE WORLD
📌 Suella Braverman, Britain’s hardline home secretary, fired as ex-PM David Cameron makes surprise return to government (CNN)
📌 Nepal bans TikTok and says it disrupts social harmony (AP)
📌 Myanmar junta attacked on new fronts, thousands flee to India (REUTERS)
📌 Rescuers dig to reach 40 workers trapped in collapsed road tunnel in north India (NPR)
📱BUSINESS, SCIENCE & TECH
📌 Stellantis offers buyouts to roughly half of U.S. salaried workers (CNBC)
📌 Eli Lilly’s experimental drug could lower risk of heart disease by 94% in just one dose (BLOOMBERG)
📌 New rule would make it easier for millions of Americans to unionize, but businesses are pushing back (AP)
📌 100% of buyers now shop for homes online, new report says (AXIOS)
🎬 SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT
📌 The Beatles have a top 10 hit on the Billboard charts again (VARIETY)
📌 The sixth and final season of “The Crown” premieres, focused on Diana’s death (NY TIMES)
📌 Michigan's Jim Harbaugh plans to attend court hearing (ESPN)
📌 Titanic first-class menu and victim's pocket watch each sell at auction for over $100,000 (CBS NEWS)
🗓 ON THIS DAY: NOVEMBER 14
1948: King Charles III was born. He celebrates his 75th birthday—his second as King.
1960: Six-year-old Ruby Bridges began attending William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans, becoming the youngest of a group of African American students to integrate schools in the American South.
1969: Apollo 12 was launched, carrying a crew of Charles Conrad, Jr., Richard F. Gordon, Jr., and Alan L. Bean, and five days later the mission made the second landing on the Moon.
2002: Rep. Nancy Pelosi became the first woman to be named leader of either party in either house of Congress.