Gaza's Largest Hospital Struggles Amid Israeli Assault

The largest hospital in Gaza, al-Shifa, is no longer functioning amid the ongoing Israeli assault, with fatalities among patients increasing. Hospitals in the north of Gaza are blockaded by Israeli forces, leaving them unable to adequately care for patients, including three newborns who have already died due to power outages. The World Health Organization (WHO) has called the situation "dire and perilous," with constant gunfire and bombing exacerbating the critical conditions. The WHO and other United Nations officials are urging an immediate ceasefire, while the president of Indonesia has also called for a ceasefire and increased humanitarian aid. Israel claims it is targeting Hamas militants and that the hospitals should be evacuated, while the European Union condemns Hamas for using hospitals and civilians as human shields. The conflict has raised fears of a broader conflagration, with Hezbollah and other Iran-backed groups launching attacks on Israel and the United States responding with airstrikes.