United Nations chief says ‘growing consensus emerging in international community to tell Israel a ceasefire is needed’.

The Israeli army has besieged three hospitals in Gaza, with medical groups beneath heavy gunfire, as a divided United Nations Security Council is about to vote on a brand new draft decision calling for an “immediate” ceasefire within the enclave.

The decision doesn’t hyperlink a pause in hostilities to the discharge of Israeli captives being held in Gaza, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres informed a information convention in Amman, Jordan, on Monday. This was one of many the reason why the earlier draft was vetoed.

Russia and China on Friday vetoed a textual content proposed by the United States, criticising it as “exceedingly politicised” and saying it didn’t clearly state opposition to Israel’s long-threatened ground operation in Rafah, the southernmost Gaza metropolis the place about 1.5 million displaced Palestinians are sheltering.

Guterres – who visited the Egyptian aspect of the border with the Gaza Strip not removed from Rafah on Saturday – mentioned there was a “growing consensus emerging in the international community to tell Israel a ceasefire is needed”, and to “tell clearly to the Israelis that any ground invasion of Rafah could mean a catastrophic humanitarian disaster”.

China mentioned it supported the brand new UNSC draft decision which is because of be voted on afterward Monday. “We hope the Security Council will pass it as soon as possible and send a strong signal for the cessation of hostilities,” international ministry spokesperson Lin Jian mentioned.

The new textual content is predicted to demand “an immediate ceasefire” for the continuing Muslim holy month of Ramadan, “leading to a permanent sustainable ceasefire”.

‘Gaza turned into graveyard’

Israeli forces surrounded the al-Amal and Nasser hospitals in southern Gaza, whereas urgent on with their siege of Gaza City’s al-Shifa Hospital, the biggest medical advanced within the Strip.

The Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) mentioned one in every of its employees members was killed when Israeli tanks abruptly pushed again into areas across the al-Amal and Nasser hospitals in Khan Younis amid heavy bombardment and gunfire.

Reporting from Rafah, Al Jazeera’s Hani Mahmoud mentioned: “Military vehicles, tanks and attack drones are encircling these two facilities. They’re also blocking the entrance with piles of sand, preventing medical staff, patients and injured people inside from leaving safely and constantly failing to provide a safe corridor for people and evacuees trapped inside the hospital.”

Nebal Farsakh, a spokesperson for PRCS, informed Al Jazeera of Israeli orders to evacuate the services, including that “at the same time they are firing bombs at the hospital”.

“Everyone inside the hospital [medical staff, patients, the wounded] is trapped since there is very intense and heavy gunfire.”

Mahmoud mentioned folks inside al-Amal Hospital have been being ordered, by way of loudspeakers, “to come out only with their underwear on”.

Reporting from Rafah, Al Jazeera’s Tareq Abu Azzoum mentioned the 2 hospitals in Khan Younis have been beneath Israeli siege for greater than 24 hours.

“Gaza has been turned into a graveyard, with hospitals and houses being attacked and destroyed,” he mentioned.

“Israeli forces at al-Amal Hospital have been forcing patients to flee from the hospital under really critical conditions, while there are still patients inside unable to leave as the bombardment and confrontations between Hamas fighters and Israeli soldiers continue.”

The Israeli army mentioned its troops started working round al-Amal following “precise intelligence … which indicated that terrorists are using civilian infrastructure for terror activities in the area of al-Amal”.

Israel alleges that hospitals in Gaza, the place the struggle has been raging for more than five months, are utilized by Hamas as bases. Israeli authorities have launched movies and footage that they are saying help their declare.

Hamas and medical employees deny the accusations.

Al-Shifa Hospital beneath hearth

The Hamas-run Gaza authorities media workplace mentioned Israeli forces had killed 5 Palestinian docs. The Israeli army didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.

“Right now, Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorists are barricading themselves inside Shifa Hospital wards,” mentioned Israeli army spokesperson Daniel Hagari, additionally claiming that gunmen have been firing at his troopers from contained in the emergency and maternity wards.

On Monday, the Israeli army claimed to have arrested 500 Hamas and Islamic Jihad members at al-Shifa Hospital since its week-old operation started.

Ismail al-Thawabta, the director of Gaza’s authorities media workplace, mentioned: “How can they claim this while their soldiers roam and frolic inside the complex with ease, conducting interrogations with displaced persons, patients, and the wounded.”

Jameel al-Ayoubi, who was one in every of hundreds of Palestinians sheltering on the hospital, noticed Israeli tanks and armoured bulldozers drive over at the least 4 our bodies within the hospital courtyard, The Associated Press information company reported. Ambulances have been additionally crushed, he mentioned.