The Israeli military said Saturday it will aid the evacuation of babies from Gaza's largest hospital, amid intense fighting around the facility between soldiers and Palestine's Hamas group.
"The staff of the Al-Shifa hospital has requested that tomorrow, we will help the babies in the paediatric department to get to a safer hospital. We will provide the assistance needed," military spokesman Daniel Hagari said in a televised briefing.
Earlier Saturday, medics said two premature babies had died at the hospital in Gaza City when the neonatal intensive care unit stopped working due to lack of power.
"There is a real risk to the lives of 37 other premature infants," Physicians for Human Rights Israel said, citing doctors at Al-Shifa hospital.
A surgeon at the facility, Mohammed Obeid, confirmed the newborn deaths and said an adult patient also died because there was no electricity for his ventilator.
"We want someone to give us the guarantee that they can evacuate the patients, because we have about 600 inpatients," he said, in an audio recording published by medical charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF).
Speaking to AFP by phone, witnesses at the hospital said there was relentless gunfire, air strikes and artillery fire which prevented people moving even within the medical complex.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Featured Video Of The Day
White House Slams Violence Against West Bank Palestinian Settlers By Israel Ceasefire Must Involve "Complete" Israeli Withdrawal From Gaza: Hamas Gaza Ceasefire Talks Underway In Qatar As Deaths Top 40,000 How Extreme Weather Is Leading To Rise In Child Marriages In Pakistan "Probably First Time Since '87/88...": Omar Abdullah On J&K Poll Dates Muhammad Yunus Dials PM Modi, Assures Protection Of Hindus In Bangladesh Man Bites Off Part Of Father's Thumb During Argument Over Property: Cops Sikh Woman, Minor Son Kidnapped By 2 In Pakistan Rescued: Cops Chhattisgarh NEET UG 2024 Counselling Schedule Released, Check Details Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.