Israeli Army Orders Evacuation of Gaza City Hospital Amid UN Summit
Jordanian Hospital in Gaza ordered to evacuate as conflict escalates and civilians flee south.
Israeli military operations intensified in Gaza City on Monday, with forces ordering the evacuation of the Jordanian field hospital amid a new ground offensive that has displaced thousands and strained the region's already devastated infrastructure. The directive came as world leaders convened at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, where discussions on the Middle East conflict loomed large, and several nations prepared to recognize a Palestinian state.
The ongoing war, now nearing its second year since Hamas's October 7, 2023, attack on Israel that killed about 1,200 people and took 250 hostages, has resulted in over 41,000 Palestinian deaths according to Gaza health authorities, exacerbating a humanitarian crisis marked by famine and widespread destruction.
The Jordanian hospital in Gaza City's southwestern Tal al-Hawa neighborhood, a critical facility for hundreds, received the evacuation order early Monday from Israeli troops advancing nearby, said Dr. Muneer al-Boush, director general of the Gaza Health Ministry. The site houses at least 300 patients, alongside medical staff and families, many of whom are trapped in surrounding homes and shelters. Israel has broadly instructed Gaza City's estimated 1 million remaining residents—down from pre-war levels—to flee south to central and southern areas, while privately urging aid organizations to vacate all humanitarian sites except hospitals.
The military, which did not immediately comment, launched the offensive last Tuesday to dismantle Hamas's military infrastructure, offering no clear end date but signaling a potentially protracted campaign lasting months. This escalation follows a fragile ceasefire in early 2025 and risks further derailing peace efforts, as families endure acute shortages amid ruined urban landscapes.
In a symbolic gesture of solidarity, Paris' Eiffel Tower projected the Palestinian and Israeli flags alongside a dove and olive branch on Sunday evening, ahead of France's formal recognition of a Palestinian state at the UN conference. Mayor Anne Hidalgo announced the display on Bluesky, reaffirming Paris's commitment to a two-state solution and expressing condolences for civilian victims on both sides.
The initiative by President Emmanuel Macron aligns with growing international momentum; Spain, Ireland, Norway, and others recognized Palestine in May 2024, prompting Israeli condemnation and vows of retaliation. At the UN, over 140 countries already acknowledge Palestinian statehood, though major powers like the US and UK have withheld recognition pending a negotiated settlement.
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Meanwhile, Italy witnessed domestic backlash against the conflict, with grassroots unions calling a nationwide 24-hour general strike on Monday in support of Gaza's civilians. The action disrupted public transport, trains, schools, and ports, accompanied by demonstrations and sit-ins denouncing the "inertia" of Italian and EU governments. In a related development, authorities in Ravenna halted a shipment of two containers labeled as "explosives" destined for Israel's Haifa port, following a request from Mayor Alessandro Barattoni and the regional governor.
Barattoni, a center-left politician, urged Rome to prohibit arms transfers through Italian territory, highlighting Europe's divided stance on military aid to Israel amid allegations of war crimes and genocide at the International Court of Justice. As the offensive persists, these global responses underscore the deepening diplomatic rift and urgent calls for de-escalation.
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