Gaza under fire

It has been hectic here so I am late with my blip.

The airstrikes and other attacks are continuing in Gaza. Since 3.45pm on Wednesday there have been at least 200 air raids by Israel across the Gaza Strip with at least 19 Palestinians killed and more than 180 injured.

Today, we visited Al Shifa hospital in Gaza City to find out what was happening. We met the Director General of the hospital who told us that essential medicines and equipment, such as antibiotics, IV solution, gloves and catheters, are in short supply.

At approximately 1.10pm, as we were leaving the ICU, a 10 month old baby girl, Haneen Tafesh, was brought into the ward. She was unconscious and her tiny body was grey. She had suffered a skull fracture and brain haemorrhage, which resulted from an attack that took place at around 11am in Gaza's Sabra neighbourhood.

Haneen was in a coma and on mechanical ventilation. Later in the afternoon, we checked how Haneen was doing and doctors said her condition had deteriorated. After returning home in the evening, we learned that she had died.

A group of us have gotten together and are preparing reports and other materials. We will be sending out a more detailed report about what we saw at Al Shifa hospital later on Friday.