A total of five premature babies and seven critical patients have died in Gaza's Al-Shifa hospital, a Hamas official said Sunday, as the facility suffers fuel shortages amid intense fighting between Israeli troops and Hamas militants.
"We fear the toll will rise further by morning," said Youssef Abu Rish, deputy health minister in the Hamas-run Gaza Strip.
Save the Children's director in the West Bank, Jason Lee, condemned the "humanitarian crisis" at the Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza on Sunday.
"We've had confirmed reports of two babies that have died this morning, that were in incubators. And there's 37 other babies at Al-Shifa hospital that are at risk," Lee told DW.
"It is critical, critical, that there is an immediate cease-fire. This is the only way to protect civilians, especially those that are still trapped. And they’re trapped in hospitals, in schools, with nowhere safe to go."
Lee also expressed doubt over the Israeli plan to evacuate babies out of the hospital, which he said would be a "difficult" task.
"The risk of civilians being injured and killed is incredibly high," he said.
"All sides, all sides, have to meet their obligations under international law and protect the civilians, especially children."
