Patients, medics flee major Rafah hospital as Israel continues military operation

Fearful medics and patients are fleeing a hospital in Rafah and transfers of the sick and injured via a border crossing with Egypt are at a standstill due to Israel’s military operation, doctors and residents said on Tuesday.

The Abu Yousef al-Najjar Hospital is located in an area of southern Gaza the Israeli army has designated a combat zone in a conflict that has seen repeated Israeli attacks on hospitals, with only a third still operational. 

Israel justifies such attacks by saying that Hamas uses them for military purposes - a claim both hospital staff and Hamas deny.