Akashma Online News

International solidarity activists are staying in a Gaza hospital as human shields, ElWAFA Medical Rehabilitation Hospital, which the Israeli Defense Forces plans to bomb. The activists joined patients unable to leave because the rest of Gaza’s hospitals are in a state of emergency treating persons injured in the bombings and waiting for more patients to come in.

Two warning rockets were fired at the Al Wafa hospital east of Gaza City at 2 a.m. early Friday morning, Director Basman al Ashi told Haaretz. At 7 pm. a rocket was fired at the fourth floor, blasting a large hole in the ceiling and shattering windows. The floor was evacuated on Wednesday.

After the rocket was fired someone called the hospital speaking in Arabic with a distinct Israeli accent he asked if there were patients on the top floor, if anyone was injured and if there were plans of evicting it. The answer to each of the questions was negative.
“The civilian population of Gaza is being bombed. We will stay with them in solidarity until the international community and our governments take action to stop Israel’s crimes against humanity.” States Swedish International Solidarity Movement (ISM) activist, Fred Ekblad.

The front of the hospital El Wafa in Gaza, on the left shows the hole and burning of the missile in the fourth floor after Israel shot 4 warning missiles. This hospital is in the list of target for IDF to be destroyed. (photo/Manu Pineda)

Al Wafa is the only rehabilitation hospital in the Gaza Strip established in 1996, it is intended for trauma patients injured. Currently there are 14 patients aged over 60 being treated in the hospital who require constant care and who cannot take care of themselves without medical supervision. Some of them are immobile, others are being fed intravenously. 25 other patients in less of an acute state left the hospital al Ashi told Haaretz.

Joseph Catron, a 33-year-old American, is one of the activists that decided to stay at the hospital as a human shield together with colleges from New Zeeland, Australia, England, Spain, Sweden, and Venezuela. Catron told Haaretz that the hospital’s director took them on a tour of all the hospital’s floors and rooms and “though I am not a military man, I didn’t see anything resembling a rocket in the hospital” Catron said.

According to Catron, he and his friends notified their respective embassies that they are staying at the hospital slated to be bombed by the IDF.