Gaza officials say hospitals under new Israeli attacks

(Patria) - Gaza officials said Israel launched airstrikes on or near at least three hospitals on Friday, Reuters reported.

"The Israeli occupation has launched simultaneous attacks on numerous hospitals over the past hours," said Ashraf Al-Qidra, spokesman for the Gaza Health Ministry, for Al Jazeera television. The medical facilities included Gaza's largest hospital, Al Shifa, where Israel says Hamas has hidden command centers and tunnels, which Hamas denies.

Qidra said Israel targeted the courtyard of the medical complex in Gaza City and that there were casualties, but did not provide details. The Israeli military did not immediately comment on Qidra's statement.

The Gaza Health Ministry announced that 18 of Gaza's 35 hospitals and 40 other health centers were not functioning due to damage from bombing or lack of fuel. Palestinian media on Friday released a video of Al Shifa which they say shows the aftermath of an Israeli attack on a parking lot where displaced Palestinians had taken shelter, with journalists watching.

"Given the ongoing strikes and fighting near (Al Shifa), we are seriously concerned for the well-being of thousands of civilians there, including many children, who are seeking medical care and shelter," Human Rights Watch said on social media platform X.

Qidra said the Al-Rantisi pediatric hospital and the Al-Nasr children's hospital "witnessed a series of direct attacks and bombings" on Friday. He said strikes near Al-Rantisi hospital set vehicles on fire, but they were partially extinguished.