On Wednesday evening, Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) denounced the Israeli airstrike on the densely populated Al-Mawasi area in Khan Younis, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip. The attack caused significant damage to MSF’s healthcare clinic in the vicinity.
In a post on the social media platform X, MSF reported: “Doctors Without Borders Condemns Attack on Al-Mawasi in Khan Younis an airstrike hit the crowded Al-Mawasi area in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, resulting in multiple casualties. MSF had only minutes to evacuate its healthcare clinic, located approximately 250 meters from the blast site.”
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“On November 13 at around 11am, an airstrike hit the densely populated zone of Al Mawasi, Khan Younis, southern Gaza, with causalities reported. MSF only had a few minutes to evacuate its healthcare clinic located around 250m away from the place of the attack.”
“The blast was huge. We didn’t receive an official evacuation order from Israeli forces, we were notified by the residents. Both staff and patients fled the clinic. We later found the facility with equipment destroyed, and shrapnel damaged the desalination plant,” Myriam, MSF coordinator.
Around 500 patients and caregivers were present before the evacuation. MSF team carries out between 600 to 700 outpatient consultations per day in the clinic and will reopen the clinic given the pressing needs of the population living in tents and dire conditions.”
“The use of heavy weapons in zones declared by Israeli authorities as “safe”, is further proof of the blatant disregard for Palestinian lives and humanitarian law. We strongly condemn such attacks and call once again for the protection of medical facilities, health care workers and civilians.”
Medical sources confirmed that the bombing led to the death of a child and injuries to over 20 civilians in Al-Mawasi, west of Khan Younis, on Wednesday morning.
Before the evacuation, around 500 patients and caregivers were present at the clinic. MSF teams provide between 600 to 700 outpatient consultations daily, making the clinic’s reopening crucial due to the urgent needs of residents living in tents under harsh conditions.
MSF emphasized that the use of heavy weaponry in areas declared safe by Israeli authorities shows a blatant disregard for Palestinian lives and international humanitarian law.
“We strongly condemn these attacks and urge the protection of medical facilities, healthcare workers, and civilians,” MSF stated.