Amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Gaza, Palestinians trapped inside Gaza's biggest hospital, Al Shifa, are facing a dire situation. With Israeli forces surrounding the hospital, patients and medical staff find themselves in a precarious position. Despite Israel's offer to send portable incubators, no plan has been put in place to evacuate the babies, leaving them at risk. According to Hamas, Gaza's ruling Islamist group, the hospital is under constant fire from snipers and drones, putting approximately 650 patients and 5,000-7,000 displaced civilians at risk.

Hamas denies that their fighters are present in the hospital and claims that the Israeli forces' encirclement has resulted in the deaths of 40 patients, including three premature babies whose incubators shut down due to power outages. The encirclement of Al Shifa hospital, which Israel says sits atop an underground headquarters of Hamas militants, has raised international alarm, including concerns from the United States. The fate of the hospital has become a focus of attention, with leaders calling for its protection.

Gaza's health ministry spokesman, Ashraf Al-Qidra, stated that approximately 100 bodies are decomposing inside the hospital compound, highlighting the urgency of the situation. To address this issue, Palestinians trapped at the hospital are digging a mass grave inside the Al Shifa medical complex, despite the dangerous environment without any cover or protection. Additionally, with fuel shortages preventing the operation of generators to power incubators, around 36 babies from the neo-natal ward are being kept warm as best as possible, with eight infants sharing one bed.

Israel has announced the offer to send portable, battery-powered incubators, but so far, no arrangements have been made for their evacuation. The hospital remains under siege, with reports of sporadic firing by Israeli forces into the hospital grounds, contradicting Israel's claims that routes for escape are available. The situation inside Al Shifa hospital continues to worsen, forcing doctors to take great risks in attending to patients. As the death toll rises and hospitals face critical challenges, calls for the protection of medical facilities grow louder.

The global community, including the United States, is closely monitoring the situation, urging a halt to intrusive actions surrounding hospitals and working towards negotiated ceasefires and prisoner releases. The conflict between Hamas and Israel has caused immense suffering for both Palestinians and Israelis, with thousands of civilians killed, injured, and displaced. The urgent need for humanitarian aid, protection of healthcare facilities, and a swift resolution to the conflict is paramount to restore peace and save lives.