The fate of civilians in Gaza continued to raise serious concerns, despite the ruling of the International Court of Justice in The Hague asking Israel to refrain from any possible act of “genocide” on Palestinian territory.

Concerns center on Khan Younis, a key city in the southern part of the enclave that has become the scene of fierce clashes between the Israeli army and the Islamist Palestinian group Hamas in recent days.

These clashes, combined with Israeli airstrikes, have forced thousands of people to flee the city and reduced the capacity of the two main local hospitals, Nasser and al-Amal, to a minimum.

Overnight, there were reports of violent strikes at the site, and the Palestinian Red Crescent said it was receiving dead and providing aid to the wounded at al-Amal hospital.

As for Nasser Hospital, the main one in Khan Younis, its “surgical capabilities” are “virtually non-existent” and “the few remaining medical staff have to deal with meager supplies of medical supplies,” said Doctors Without Borders (MSF). ).

“As fighting intensifies around Nasser Hospital…hundreds of patients and health staff have fled. At the moment, 350 patients remain in the hospital and 5,000 are displaced (due to the conflicts),” said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, head of the World Health Organization (WHO), on Platform X. “The hospital is short of fuel, food and supplies,” he added, calling for an “immediate ceasefire.”

The International Court of Justice in The Hague yesterday called on Israel to do everything possible to prevent any act of genocide in the Gaza Strip and to allow humanitarian aid to enter in its historic ruling on South Africa’s appeal against Israel.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel was bound by international law following the ruling by the International Court of Justice in The Hague but reiterated that the country has the right to defend itself. Reacting to South Africa’s appeal to the Court, Netanyahu said the charge of genocide was “outrageous”.