Doctors Without Borders called for an end to the systematic Israeli bombing of the Shifa Medical Complex and hospitals in the Gaza Strip, and reviewed horrific testimonies from doctors and health workers in the Shifa Complex, which has been subjected to a fierce campaign for more than 24 hours.

Doctors Without Borders said in a statement on Saturday that over the past 24 hours, hospitals in Gaza have been subjected to continuous bombing. The Shifa Hospital complex, the largest health facility where MSF staff is still working, was bombed several times, including the maternity wards and outpatient clinics, resulting in numerous deaths and injuries.

The organization noted that the hostilities of the occupation forces did not stop around the hospital. MSF teams and hundreds of patients remain inside Al-Shifa Hospital. The organization reiterated its urgent calls for an end to attacks against hospitals, an immediate ceasefire and the protection of medical facilities, medical staff and patients.

The organization reviewed testimonies from Al-Shifa Hospital nurses and doctors: “We are being killed here, please do something,” is a text message to one of the Doctors Without Borders nurses from the basement of Al-Shifa Hospital this morning, where he and his family were taking shelter from the continuing bombing. “Four or five families are now taking shelter in the basement and the bombing is very close, and my children are crying and screaming in fear.”

While Doctors Without Borders quoted the head of the organization’s mission in Palestine, Anne Taylor: “The situation in Al-Shifa is truly catastrophic. We call on the Israeli government to stop this ongoing assault on the health system in Gaza. Our staff and patients are inside Al-Shifa Hospital, where the violent bombing has not stopped since yesterday".

“There are a lot of patients who have already had surgery and cannot walk. They cannot evacuate. We need an ambulance to transport them, and we do not have ambulances to evacuate all the patients,” said Dr. Mohamed Obaid, an MSF surgeon at Al-Shifa Hospital.

The doctor added: "We cannot leave because since yesterday morning until now, we have performed surgeries on about 25 patients." Obaid wondered: “If I or the other surgeon are not here, who will take care of the patients? There is a patient who needs surgery, another who needs surgery, and one of them is already sleeping under anesthesia.”

Doctors Without Borders condemned what it described as the death warrant issued against the civilians currently besieged in Al-Shifa Hospital, which was signed by the Israeli army. “There must be an urgent and unconditional ceasefire from all warring parties; humanitarian aid must be delivered to the entire Gaza Strip now.”

Doctors Without Borders noted that it had lost contact with a surgeon who works and resides in Al-Quds Hospital with his family. Other health facilities, including Rantisi Hospital which MSF has supported in the past, were reportedly surrounded by Israeli tanks.

The organization renewed its demands to respect international humanitarian law, calling on the United States, Britain, Canada, member states of the League of Arab States, member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the European Union to take the necessary measures to ensure a ceasefire now.

“The atrocities unfolding before our eyes in Gaza clearly show that calls for restraint and adherence to international humanitarian law have fallen on deaf ears,” MSF said. “Working purposefully to achieve a ceasefire is the most effective way to ensure the protection of civilians.”

The organization recalled that thousands of civilians had been injured, many of whom were in critical condition and would require complex surgical operations and continuous treatment for weeks, if not months. “This can only be achieved through a complete ceasefire and the unconditional supply of humanitarian aid, including access to food, fuel and water; the survival of the people of Gaza depends on this.”