As Israeli tanks encircle Gaza's main hospital, trapping hundreds of patients and personnel inside, US President Joe Biden declared that the facility "must be protected."
Speaking to reporters on Monday at the White House, Biden expressed his desire that Israel will take "less intrusive action" at Al-Shifa Hospital, where medical personnel claim Israeli snipers and bombs have regularly targeted them, Al Jazeera reported.
“My hope and expectation is that there will be less intrusive action relative to hospitals and we remain in contact with the Israelis,” Biden told reporters in the Oval Office.
“Also, there is an effort to get this pause to deal with the release of prisoners and that’s being negotiated, as well, with the Qataris … being engaged,” the US President added. “So I remain somewhat hopeful but hospitals must be protected.”
Biden's comments came as medics warned of increasing casualties among patients, including newborn babies, at a hospital encircled by Israeli forces since Saturday.
Witnesses reported tanks and armoured vehicles near the gate on Monday, where staff claim power outages, dwindling supplies and Israeli bombardment have made patient care nearly impossible.
