All patients in Al-Shifa’s intensive care unit die due to blockade — director

All patients in Al-Shifa Hospital’s intensive care unit have died due to the blockade by Israeli troops, Mohamed Abu Silmiya, the hospital’s director, said on Friday.

"All the patients who were in the intensive care unit have died, every single one of them, this happened because of Israel’s week-long blockade," he said in an interview with the Sky News Arabia television channel. "More than 54 people have already died in the hospital since the beginning of the blockade. I am afraid that those who are now in critical condition will also die."

"Displaced persons are also in horrible humanitarian conditions," he noted. "The hospital has turned into a cemetery, prison and Israeli barracks all at the same time. The Israeli military is shooting at anything that moves on the hospital’s territory."

The Al Hadath television channel reported earlier that the Israeli military does not let anyone leave the hospital or its adjacent buildings, although, as it claims, there are no militants inside. According to Al Hadath, anyone trying to leave the hospital is detained by Israeli soldiers, who regularly search the building. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and other international organizations are not allowed inside the hospital compound. According to the television channel, all those who are trapped inside the Al-Shifa hospital are in mortal danger, having no access to water, food or medicine.