Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has initiated the transfer of the last 22 patients from a hospital in Rafah following an order from the Israeli military to evacuate additional neighborhoods in the southern Gaza city. The medical humanitarian organization stated that new evacuation orders for parts of Rafah have compelled them to refer the remaining patients at the Rafah Indonesian Field Hospital to other facilities due to safety concerns.
The Rafah Indonesian Field Hospital, a 60-bed facility specializing in post-operative care, has been attending to approximately 130 patients daily for dressing changes, physiotherapy, and counseling, according to MSF. The organization has urged Israel to cease its offensive actions, which are hindering the provision of critical medical assistance and the ability of people to seek refuge amidst the ongoing destruction.
Israel's military recently issued immediate evacuation orders for several more neighborhoods in Rafah as part of intensified operations preceding a potential ground offensive. The Israel Defence Forces reported that around 300,000 individuals have already evacuated the city in response to what is described as a 'current temporary evacuation' of Rafah.