In the midst of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, Dar al-Shifa, the largest hospital in the region, has been described as a "death zone" by the World Health Organization (WHO). The hospital has been severely impacted by the Israeli army's orders to evacuate, leaving only 25 staff members to care for 291 seriously ill patients.

The WHO managed to access the medical center on Sunday after it was raided by Israeli forces earlier in the week. Israeli authorities alleged that Hamas had been using al-Shifa as a command center, making it a target in their military operation despite international outcry.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) released video footage on Sunday, showcasing a 55-meter tunnel located 10 meters underground, which was reportedly uncovered underneath a shed in the hospital complex. The IDF also shared footage of two hostages, one Thai and one Nepalese, whose identities remain unknown, from Shifa's CCTV system, dated October 7.

On Saturday, approximately 2,500 people, including many sick and injured individuals, walked south from the area surrounding al-Shifa after being instructed to leave. They navigated through ruined streets and encountered decaying corpses. The hospital director revealed that at least 40 people, including eight premature babies, had died at al-Shifa during the week due to the lack of electricity needed to operate life-saving equipment.

The WHO and Palestinian Red Crescent have started evacuating patients who were unable to flee on foot, including 32 critically ill babies and trauma patients with severe infections due to limited access to antibiotics. The babies have been transported to the south of Gaza in preparation for their transfer to the Emirates hospital in Rafah, Egypt.

However, the WHO has warned that the facilities in Gaza's south, though perceived as safer, are already overwhelmed. The organization emphasized the urgent need for an immediate ceasefire to alleviate the significant suffering happening in the region.

Meanwhile, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) reported that one person was killed during an attack on its staff and family members while evacuating from a clinic near al-Shifa. Despite coordinating their passage with both sides, the convoy came under attack.

The humanitarian situation in the southern half of Gaza is no better than the north. Early on Sunday, Israeli bombardments resulted in the deaths of 15 Palestinians in central and southern areas. The ongoing conflict has left more than half of Gaza's population, roughly 2.3 million people, displaced.

As the conflict intensifies and Israel expands its operations to areas south of Gaza City, concerns rise for the safety of civilians who have sought refuge in that region. The IDF's relentless air and ground campaign has already claimed the lives of thousands, including many children.

The fate of Gaza after the conflict remains unclear. French authorities have announced plans to send a second aircraft carrier to the eastern Mediterranean to offer medical assistance in the region. International pressure continues to mount for an end to the violence and a resolution to the ongoing crisis in Gaza.