Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated on Sunday that Israel had offered fuel to Gaza’s Al Shifa hospital, which had suspended operations due to a fuel shortage. However, the militants in Gaza refused to accept the fuel. Netanyahu was questioned by NBC News about the Israeli allegations that Hamas had a command post under the main hospital in Gaza and whether this justified endangering the lives of sick individuals and infants. In response, Netanyahu clarified that Israel had actually offered fuel to operate the hospital and its incubators, emphasizing that they had no conflict with patients or civilians.
Israel’s military announced its readiness to evacuate babies from Al Shifa hospital on Sunday. However, Palestinian officials reported that people inside the hospital were still trapped, with three newborns already deceased and many others at risk due to a power outage caused by the ongoing fighting in the vicinity. When asked about Israel’s plan to provide fuel to power hospitals in Gaza, Netanyahu revealed that they had offered fuel to Shifa hospital, but it was refused. He accused Hamas of using hospitals as hiding places and expressed the belief that they wanted the fuel not for the hospital but for their tunnels and war efforts.
Hamas, the Palestinian militant group, denied the Israeli allegations of having command posts under Shifa hospital and other hospitals in Gaza. They did not immediately respond to Netanyahu’s statements.
